India joined the BRICS Centre for Industrial Competencies (BCIC) at an event organised by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce & Industry, at Vanijya Bhavan, New Delhi. The BCIC, launched in partnership with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), serves as a one-stop centre providing integrated support services to manufacturing companies and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) across BRICS countries, with a focus on strengthening Industry 4.0 competencies.

On the occasion, a Trust Fund Agreement was signed between DPIIT and UNIDO. The Agreement was signed by Economic Adviser, DPIIT, Shri Agrim Kaushal, and Director, UNIDO, Dr. Cristiano Pasini, formalizing India’s participation in the BCIC framework.

The National Productivity Council (NPC) has been designated as the India Centre for BRICS Industrial Competencies. Under the policy guidance of DPIIT and with technical support from UNIDO, NPC will spearhead India’s engagement with BCIC and contribute to capacity building, productivity enhancement and adoption of advanced manufacturing practices.

The event was presided over by Secretary, DPIIT, Shri Amardeep Singh Bhatia, and was attended by Director General, NPC, Smt. Neerja Sekhar, along with senior officials from DPIIT, the Ministry of MSME, the Ministry of External Affairs, representatives from UNIDO, and industry partner Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).

 

India joins BRICS Centre for Industrial Competencies to bolster Industry 4.0 skills and support manufacturing and MSMEs regionally. India formalised participation in the BRICS Centre for Industrial Competencies by signing a Trust Fund Agreement with UNIDO and designated the National Productivity Council as the India centre; DPIIT will give policy guidance and UNIDO will provide technical support while NPC leads capacity building, productivity enhancement and adoption of advanced manufacturing practices for manufacturing firms and MSMEs with a focus on Industry 4.0 competencies.