BRICS CCI Women Empowerment Honours Leaders And Entrepreneurs In The 4th Annual Summit

BRICS CCI Women Empowerment marked India's G-20 Presidency with the 4th Annual Summit, aligning with a vision for inclusive growth. Under the theme 'The Changing Narrative: Women Development to Women-led Development,' the summit showcased the unveiling of a report titled 'New Era of BRICS: Horizons in Tech and Business for Women Empowerment.' Additionally, the event commemorated the achievements of the inaugural class of the BRICS CCI WE Global Women Leadership Programme, emphasising notable advancements in technology and entrepreneurship across BRICS nations. 

Eminent panelists engaged in insightful discussions on women-led development in India and elucidated the pillars of women-led development, including education, enterprise, financial literacy and leadership. The discussion highlighted various challenges women leaders face, including obstacles in negotiation due to societal patterns. Speakers emphasised the need for empowering Indian women, addressing issues in leadership and property rights and leveraging technology for empowerment. Historical contributions of Indian women were acknowledged and current efforts focus on promoting women's leadership with a call for inclusive policies. 

The panel focused on investing in women leaders and fostering workplace diversity as key themes, with initiatives such as flexible work arrangements and coaching. The conversation also covered gender balance in agricultural education, upskilling for women returning to the workforce and the 'motherhood penalty' impacting career progression. Overall, the importance of social support and inclusive policies for achieving gender equity and parity was emphasised throughout the discussion. 

In her opening remarks, Ruby Sinha, President, BRICS CCI Women Empowerment, expressed, "The transition from women development to women-led development signifies not just a change in narrative but a commitment to empowering half of our population. Women are no longer viewed as passive recipients of aid but as active agents of change, capable of leading and shaping their development and that of their communities.'' 

The summit also honoured extraordinary women who have made significant contributions to the advancement of women's development. Poonam Dhillon, actor, entrepreneur and politician, was felicitated with the BRICS CCI WE Trailblazer Lifetime Achievement Award for her illustrious career, which not only enriched the entertainment industry but also paved the way for women's empowerment and leadership in diverse sectors. Raimati Ghiuria, Meenakshi Gopinath and Latika Bhandari were honoured as BRICS CCI WE Women Icon Trailblazers. 

The Summit also recognised the achievements of emerging women entrepreneurs, both within and outside the BRICS CCI network, such as Niti Batra, Director of Joy Travels, Amrita V Chowdhury, Director of Gaia Smart Cities Solutions Pvt Ltd, N J Anitha, Vice President of SNJ Breweries Pvt Ltd and Renu Sharma, CEO of Rajwarah Jewellers, for their exemplary contributions to entrepreneurship and innovation, fostering economic growth and empowerment. 

The summit was graced by diplomats from the embassies of Russia, China, Brazil, South Africa, Iran, Cuba, Costa Rica, Chile, Belarus, Gambia, Angola, Chad, Comoros and Venezuela, among others. Distinguished speakers contributed invaluable insights to the event. Dr BBL Madhukar, Director General of the BRICS CCI, marked the summit as a significant milestone in advancing women-led development, emphasising collaboration among BRICS nations to foster a more equitable world. Shazia Ilmi, National Spokesperson for the BJP, highlighted the critical role of women's empowerment in collective progress, calling for an enabling environment through policy interventions.  

Sameep Shastri, Vice Chairman of BRICS CCI, emphasised the summit's central focus on women's empowerment in shaping development narratives, with a keen emphasis on creating opportunities for women as leaders and change-makers. Ajay Chaudhary, IPS, Special Commissioner of Police, underscored the paramount importance of ensuring women's safety for their empowerment, advocating for strengthened law enforcement mechanisms and gender-sensitive policies.