India can use the BRICS platform to expand its homegrown technologies and innovations into global markets, creating opportunities for both India and fellow member countries, industry experts said on Friday on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit.

Mfundo Thango, CEO of South African company Mpilo-Ende Fortified Foods, said India’s relatively advanced technological ecosystem, particularly in agriculture and agri-tech, could provide a strong foundation for African countries to adopt Indian innovations more widely.

“India is much more developed than South Africa, so I believe the technologies and agri-tech innovations developed here can be adapted and deployed more effectively across Africa, with South Africa serving as a base,” Thango said.

He added that such collaboration could benefit African countries while giving Indian companies opportunities to take their technologies to international markets.

Petr Sizov, Press Secretary at the Russian Embassy in India, said India’s rapid economic growth and expanding cooperation with Russia have created significant opportunities for the two countries to undertake joint projects.

“India is the fastest-growing major economy in the world and is moving rapidly towards becoming the world’s third-largest economy,” Sizov said, adding that more than 110 Russian companies are participating in the BRICS Summit.

He said the strong Russian participation reflected the growing business and economic engagement between the two countries and highlighted the potential for both nations to deepen cooperation through the BRICS platform.

Highlighting India’s BRICS presidency as a major opportunity, Anupam Vohra, Vice President of the Association of Hospitality Professionals Welfare, said the grouping could also strengthen tourism and hospitality ties among member countries.

“Tourism in India is witnessing tremendous growth. Our economy is expanding rapidly and a large number of international tourists are visiting the country,” Vohra said.

He noted that BRICS brings together countries with diverse economic structures, priorities and levels of development. He said this diversity makes it important for member countries to adopt a flexible approach when framing policies and initiatives.

Vohra pointed out that countries such as China have developed highly advanced tourism industries, while Russia faces a different set of challenges because of the ongoing conflict.

He said the diversity within BRICS makes the grouping important for global economic cooperation, as its member countries collectively represent a substantial share of the world’s population and economy.