Skip to content
Mumbai · Thursday, 10 September 2026

National Revealed

The Truth can never be hidden

Business

India needs export push to cut BRICS trade gap

By Sohail Khan 10 September 2026, 2:57 pm

Benchmarks
Nifty23,422.25-9.25

FEATURED FUNDS★★★★★

Motilal Oswal Midcap Fund Direct-Growth

5Y Return
21.98 %

Invest Now

Enter search text:

Business News›News›India›India needs stronger export push as energy imports drive trade deficits with BRICS nations: BRICS CCI Chairman

    Read Today's Paper

    India needs stronger export push as energy imports drive trade deficits with BRICS nations: BRICS CCI Chairman
    Synopsis

    India must increase exports to BRICS nations to counter trade deficits from energy imports. Greater focus is needed on export promotion and technology sharing among member countries. Businesses should increasingly use local currencies and digital payments for trade transactions. Logistical challenges are being addressed through exploring new trade routes like the Arctic. Progress is anticipated on trade agreements, particularly between India and Russia.

    India needs stronger export push as energy imports drive trade deficits with BRICS nations: BRICS CCI ChairmanANI
    India needs stronger export push as energy imports drive trade deficits with BRICS nations: BRICS CCI Chairman

    New Delhi [India]: India needs to strengthen exports to BRICS economies as high energy imports have left the country running a trade deficit with most members of the grouping, BRICS Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chairman Sameep Shastri said.



    "Currently, India is in a trade deficit with most of the BRICS nations because we are primarily importing energy sources. With our consumption very high and a population of 1.4 billion, we need to make sure that every household has LPG and every car is running on petrol," Shastri told ANI.



    Also Read: BRICS Summit: 15,000 Delhi Police personnel to be deployed for multi-layered security



    He said India was making progress in manufacturing and improving product standards, which could support exports.



    "So we were all about quantity earlier; now it is about quality and quantity, and our standards are being approved and accepted even in pharmaceuticals," he said.




    Shastri said greater focus was needed on exports, complementarities between BRICS economies and technology sharing.



    "We do have to focus more on the export part. We do have to focus on how we complement each other further, and technology sharing is something which really needs to be done," he said.



    On de-dollarisation, Shastri backed greater use of local currencies and digital payments in trade, arguing that businesses face additional conversion and transaction costs when dealing through the US dollar.



    Also Read: The BRICS trade boom has a $226 billion hole for India



    "I don't see any other solution rather than dealing with local currency and with digital transactions taking place," he said, while pointing to India's Unified Payments Interface as an example of digital payment infrastructure.



    Referring to the United States, Shastri said, "de dollarization started when America invested in crypto themselves they de dollarized themselves rather than blaming it on other countries."



    He also flagged logistical challenges to deeper intra-BRICS trade because member countries are spread across different regions.



    "Logistical challenges are immense because of the geopolitical situation and geographical reasons," Shastri said, adding that India, China and Russia were exploring new routes, including the Arctic route.



    On trade agreements within BRICS, Shastri expressed hope for progress involving India and Russia.



    "We are hoping a Russian trade deal to come forward, which is one of the first amongst the BRICS nations," he said.



    India is currently negotiating a free trade agreement with the Eurasian Economic Union, of which Russia is a member. India and Russia have also set a target of taking bilateral trade above USD 100 billion by 2030, while seeking to increase Indian exports and make trade more balanced.



    During India's BRICS chairship this year, member countries have also discussed expanding trade and building more resilient and diversified supply chains.

    Add ET Logo as a Reliable and Trusted News Source
    Google Logo Add Now!


    (You can now subscribe to our WhatsApp channel)


    (You can now subscribe to our WhatsApp channel)


    Read More News on
    India export pushBRICS trade deficitSameep ShastriBRICS economiesenergy imports Indialocal currencies tradefree trade agreement Russia India

    The The
    Enter search text:

    Stories you might be interested in

      Leave a Reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *