PM Modi Invites BRICS Businesses to Invest in India, Highlights Semiconductors, Shipbuilding and Critical Minerals
Sub-headline
India is emerging as a major investment destination for global businesses, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said at the BRICS Business Forum 2026, highlighting opportunities across infrastructure, semiconductors, quantum technology, critical minerals, biotechnology and startups.
Highlights
- PM Modi pitched India as a growing investment hub for BRICS businesses.
- Shipbuilding, semiconductors, quantum technology, critical minerals and biotech identified as strategic opportunities.
- India has more than 2 lakh startups and over 120 unicorns.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has invited businesses from BRICS countries to explore investment opportunities in India, highlighting the country’s expanding infrastructure, manufacturing ecosystem and capabilities in strategic technologies.
Addressing the BRICS Business Forum 2026, Modi said India is building new capacities in areas including shipbuilding, semiconductors, quantum technology, critical minerals and biotechnology. These sectors, he said, are creating fresh opportunities for global companies looking to invest and expand.
The Prime Minister summed up India’s proposition to international businesses with the message: “Make in India, Innovate with India, and Scale for the World.”
Modi said India is rapidly expanding roads, railways, ports and airports while simultaneously strengthening strategic industries. He argued that diversification and more reliable supply chains have helped India offer growth and stability despite global economic uncertainties.
The investment pitch comes as BRICS’ economic footprint continues to expand. According to Modi, BRICS countries account for around 50% of the world’s population, 40% of global GDP and more than 25% of international trade. He said the combined GDP of BRICS economies has increased around 4.5 times since the grouping was formed, compared with roughly 2.5 times growth in global GDP.
Startups, Innovation Open New Opportunities
Modi also highlighted India’s startup ecosystem as another major opportunity for cross-border investment and collaboration. India now has more than 2 lakh startups and over 120 unicorns, with companies working across artificial intelligence, education, healthcare, green hydrogen, batteries, defence and space.
He called for using the BRICS platform to help these innovations reach international markets.
The Prime Minister also highlighted India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) as an example of innovation at population scale, saying India has created an open digital ecosystem where businesses and startups can develop new solutions.
Push to Reduce Trade Barriers
Modi said that while trade barriers are increasing in parts of the world, India is working to build “economic bridges.” He said India has entered into free trade agreements with around 40 countries since 2014 and wants BRICS economies to reduce barriers and create more opportunities for businesses.
India’s BRICS presidency has also introduced initiatives including the BRICS Incubator Network, BRICS MSME Portal and BRICS Startup Innovation Fund, aimed at connecting startups and smaller businesses with markets and finance.
Modi urged businesses to use these frameworks to increase investment and talent exchange among BRICS countries.
Looking ahead, he proposed three measurable goals: identifying and removing the top 10 trade barriers among BRICS economies, supporting 100 BRICS startups every year to expand into other BRICS markets, and developing 1,000 new business partnerships.
