The BRICS Think Tanks Council on Tuesday presented its recommendations during the concluding session of the 18th BRICS Academic Forum at Lucknow University, recommending practical pathways to build economic and climate resilience, deepen cooperation on innovation and technology, advance sustainable development and support a more inclusive multilateral system.
The recommendations were presented to Shambhu L Hakki, joint secretary (MER), ministry of external affairs and BRICS Sous-Sherpa. The Forum, convened by Observer Research Foundation in partnership with Research and Information System for Developing Countries and LU, brought together policymakers, academicians and experts from BRICS nations under the theme ‘Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability’. Priesner met chief secretary Shashi Prakash Goyal and proposed periodic review meetings between the chief secretary’s office and UN agencies to accelerate development results. The chief secretary appreciated UN agencies’ support for the state’s priorities.
“India as chair has adopted a constructive approach, producing consensus documents across ministerials, with practical outcomes such as cooperation frameworks on agriculture inputs discussed in Indore, a proposed startup innovation fund, supply chain and logistics mechanism, BRICS Connect for skilling, understanding on global value chains and a science and research depository, besides ICT ministerial deliberations on emerging technologies including AI in Pune,” he said. Citing outcomes, he said work is underway on a startup innovation fund, a supply chain mechanism in logistics, cooperation to protect farmers as discussed by agriculture ministers, BRICS Connect for skilling, understanding on global value chains and a science and research depository.
