Business programme

BRICS is evolving and playing an increasingly important role in the world. The accession of new member countries into BRICS and the prospects for the further expansion of the inter-state association, cooperation in the economic, political and humanitarian spheres, and the need to find joint solutions to the global challenges facing humanity – all this requires adjustments and updates to be made to the association’s agenda, the humanitarian part in particular. It has to be adapted to modern realities, while at the same time being forward-looking. The interaction between civil society and the expansion of cooperation between women leaders, scientists and public figures will go a long way to solving this problem.

What mechanisms should be used to develop international cooperation among female-led NGOs? What prospects does interaction among NGOs led by women open up in environmental protection, the study of the history, culture and spiritual values of various countries, and the protection of the rights and freedoms of citizens? What aspects will the participation of women leaders bring to the study of the global mechanisms that regulate public life (values)? How will consolidating their efforts contribute to the development of human potential in the BRICS countries?

The BRICS Women’s Business Alliance has been an important mechanism for cooperation within BRICS ever since its inception in 2020. The Alliance’s main activities are focused on promoting female entrepreneurship and increasing the role of women entrepreneurs in the development of trade and economic cooperation in the BRICS countries.

BRICS takes up 36% of the globe’s land area and represents 3.5 billion people, half of the world’s food production, and more than 44% of the world’s oil reserves. For the business community, the expansion of the association opens up new prospects for cooperation and the exchange of experience, and provides additional opportunities for investment.

What impact has the accession of new countries to the BRICS association had on the business agenda and the entrepreneurial environment of participating countries? What approaches are being used to find new points for the development of multilateral business cooperation? What areas of cooperation are a priority in terms of expanding the association? What joint women’s projects are being implemented to develop economic ties between the BRICS countries?

Moderator:
Anna Nesterova — General Director, LLC “Chas Palekh”, Chairperson of the Russian part, BRICS Women's Business Alliance, Russian Federation (Moscow)

Panellists:
Farah Algharib — Founder, Chief Executive Officer, Precision & Choice, Saudi Arabia
Galina Volkova — Founder and Head, Group of Companies Ortomoda; Member of BRICS Women’s Business Alliance Russian Chapter, Russian Federation (Moscow)
Marianne Ghali — Managing Director of Qalaa Holdings, Managing Director of Grandview Investment Holdings, Chairman of the Egyptian part of BRICS Women's Business Alliance, Egypt
Tribhuvan Darbari — Chairman of the national part of the SCO Business Council, Chairman of the India-Russia Business Council, Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), India
Gulshat Zagidullina — General Director of TATLIFT LLC, Russian Federation (Kazan);
Lebogang Zulu — Chief Executive Officer of Kokozu International, Chairman of the Board of the African Women's Bank, Executive Director of Kampara Group Holdings, President of the BRICS Africa Women's Fund, Chair of BRICS Women's Business Alliance South African Chapter, RSA
Daria Kryachkova — Project Coordinator of the Eurasian Women's Forum Council Project "Women in Modern Industry"; Vice President for Human Resources Policy, MMC NORILSK NICKEL PJSC, Russian Federation (Moscow)
Mina Mehrnoosh — Doctor of Economics and Lecturer, University of Tehran; Owner, Chief Executive Officer, KASBINO, Iran;
Monica Monteiro — Institutional Director of Band Pay TV, Senior Executive Advisor to the Presidency of CNBC in Brazil, Chairperson of BRICS WBA Brazil Chapter of the BRICS Women's Business Alliance, Brazil
Tatiana Patrusheva — Director for Development and Interaction with Government Authorities Vademecum Media LLC, Russian Federation
Sangita Reddy — Joint Managing Director, Apollo Hospitals Group, Chirperson of the BRICS WBA India Chapter, BRICS Women's Business Alliance, India
Naik Samiksha — Managing Director, Samswek Global Group of Companies, UAE;
Yirga Sara — Founder, General Director, YA Coffee Roasters; Founder and CEO, Cherish Addis Coffee and Books; Founder and Board President, Women in Coffee Ethiopia (WiCE), Member of BRICS Women's Business Alliance Ethiopian Chapter, Ethiopia;
Yuliana Slashcheva — Chairman of the Management Board, Soyuzmultfilm Film Studio; Chairman of the Management Board, Russian Animated Film Association; General Director, Gorky Film Studio; Member of BRICS Women's Business Alliance Russian Chapter, Russian Federation (Moscow)
Ji Jinfeng — Chairman and CEO of the Russian-Chinese Association for the Promotion of Humanitarian and Technological Cooperation, China;
Elena Chashchina — Co-owner and Managing Partner, EPOTOS Group of Companies; Member of BRICS Women’s Business Alliance Russia Chapter, Russian Federation (Moscow)
Lyudmila Scherbakova — Coordinator of the Eurasian Women's Forum Council Project ‘Women in the Pharmaceutical Industry’, member of the Russian part of the BRICS Women's Business Alliance, Russia (Kurgan region)

Moderator:
Victoria Panova — Head, BRICS Expert Council – Russia; Vice-Rector, National Research University Higher School of Economics; Russian W20 Sherpa; Co-Chair of the BRICS 2024 Civil Forum, Russian Federation (Moscow)

Panellists:
Binod Singh Ajatshatru — Director of BRICS Institute, India;
Razieh Alishawandi — Deputy Head of International Relations, Iranian Red Crescent Society, Iran;
Hoda Al Khzaimi — Founder and Director of EMARATSEC, NYU's Center for Emerging Advanced Research Acceleration for Technology in Abu Dhabi, UAE;
Jieni Guo — Secretary General, Beijing International Exchange Association (BIEA), China;
Raymond Matlala — Founder and Chairman, South African BRICS Youth Association, Republic of South Africa
Fabiano Melnichuk — Professor of Political Science at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, member of the NEBRICS research group, Brazil;
Elena Peryshkina — Co-Chair of the BRICS Civil Council, Co-Chair of the BRICS 2024 Civil Forum, Co-Chair of the Russian Group of NGOs on BRICS issues, Director of the AIDS Infoshare Fund, Russian Federation (Moscow)
Sergey Ryabkov — Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, Sherpa of Russia in BRICS, Russian Federation (Moscow)
Mohammed Salah — Member of the Board of Trustees, Al-Hewar Foundation for Studies and Humanities Researchs; Chairman, Eurasia and BRICS Forum, Egypt
Molla Amera Fassikaw — Deputy Director General of the Ethiopian Civil Society Organizations Office, Ethiopia;

The ministerial meeting aims to define key areas of cooperation to achieve sustainable development goals, taking into account the differences in the national, cultural, and economic features of each BRICS country. This cooperation platform will reflect the common desire for sustainable macroeconomic growth, peace and security, social justice, and improvements to people’s quality of life. The meeting participants will also exchange experience about ways to support women’s leadership and increase their role in governance, discuss challenges associated with expanding women’s opportunities in BRICS countries, as well as developing and strengthening women’s potential at the global, national, and regional levels. A partnership in addressing these challenges will have a positive impact on the development of BRICS countries.

Issues related to the just energy transition are a focal point of the global energy agenda and are key in the BRICS energy dialogue during the year of Russia’s chairmanship of the organization. Women in all BRICS countries play a crucial role in addressing such issues.

What best practices in promoting the just energy transition agenda can BRICS women share? What practical role do women play in the energy transition of BRICS countries? How do BRICS countries support women’s leadership in fuel and energy companies, and what additional support measures are possible and necessary? How are BRICS countries utilizing the potential of women’s entrepreneurship in the energy sector? What joint projects could BRICS countries implement to train and adapt women to the engineering professions needed for the energy transition?

Moderator:
Alexey Kulapin — General Director, Russian Energy Agency (REA) of the Ministry of Energy of Russia, Russian Federation (Moscow)

Panellists:
Farah Algharib — Founder, Chief Executive Officer, Precision & Choice, Saudi Arabia
Gulnara Bikkulova — Deputy General Director - Director of International Initiatives and Partnerships, Rosatom Corporate Academy, Russian Federation (Moscow)
Irina Gaida — Project Coordinator of the Council of the Eurasian Women's Forum "Environmental Platform", Deputy Director of the Project Center for Energy Transition and ESG Principles, Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology (Skoltech), Russian Federation (Moscow)
Mpho Mookapele — Chief Executive Officer, Energy and Water Sector Education and Training Authority, Republic of South Africa
Nelisiwe Nhlapo — Project Manager, Energy and Water Sector Education and Training Authority, Republic of South Africa
Munira Sultana — Chairman, Sustainable and Renewable Energy Development Authority, Bangladesh
Thakur Tripta — Director General, National Power Training Institute (NPTI), India
Simin Dokht Shirvani-Arani — Director of Scientific and International Cooperation at the Nuclear Science and Technology Research Institute, Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, Iran

Entrance by invitation only

The development of agribusiness is inextricably linked with ensuring food security for the entire world. BRICS countries have a major impact on the global agricultural market. Today, the combined population of BRICS countries makes up almost half of the world’s overall population and their agricultural land accounts for more than 30% of the world’s total area. Women comprise the majority of the population in agricultural areas and make a significant contribution to the development of agribusiness.

The Russian Federation, which is chairing BRICS this year, pays great attention to women’s role in agribusiness, the development of their potential, as well as cooperation among BRICS states in this regard. During the business brunch, women leaders from BRICS countries will discuss ways to ensure food security, as well as the development of partnerships between their countries.

Moderator:
Dmitry Schugorev — Russian journalist, broadcaster, Russian Federation (Moscow)

Panellists:
Svetlana Afanasieva — Deputy General Director for Government Relations, PhosAgro PJSC, Russian Federation (Moscow)
Fatemeh Javardi — Head of the International Organizations Department of the International Department, Ministry of Agriculture Jihad of the Islamic Republic of Iran;
Sibulele Nomahlubi Poswayo — South African W20 Delegate; Founding Chair, Inequality Movement, Republic of South Africa;
Charu Pragya — Rural Development Expert, Moderator of the Ruling Party's National Television Debate on Rural Development, India;
Tatiana Sakharova — Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council Committee on Agrarian and Food Policy and Nature Management, Russian Federation (Murmansk region)
Natalia Starygina — Deputy Managing Partner of B1 Group, Russian Federation (St. Petersburg)
Elena Fastova — Deputy Minister of Agriculture of the Russian Federation
Mahmoud Hend Abdellah — Lab Director, QCAP, Ministry of Agriculture of Egypt;