Agra, 20 June (HS): Members of the BRICS countries, who

arrived in Agra on Friday to attend the third Working Group Convention of the

BRICS MSME Forum in Agra district, Uttar Pradesh, visited the Taj Mahal on

Saturday morning. The marble inlay work and architectural art mesmerized the guests.

They also took memorable photographs with the Taj Mahal.

To highlight India's growing global economic strength and

the immense potential of the MSME sector, the two-day BRICS-India

2026 convention, which began Friday at the Taj Convention Center in Agra,

included a grand two-day meeting of the BRICS MSME Forum and the third BRICS

MSME Working Group on Friday. Held at the Taj Convention Center in Tajganj, the

Uttar Pradesh government highlighted the outstanding achievements of its MSME

sector and its global trade strategies to the global community. Addressing the

BRICS summit, Bhupendra Singh Chaudhary, the state's Minister for Micro, Small

and Medium Enterprises (MSME) and District In-Charge, said that under the

leadership of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Uttar Pradesh is emerging as the

MSME capital of India. Currently, over 9.6 million MSME units are operating in

the state, providing employment to approximately 16.5 million people.

The Yogi government considers MSMEs not only as a source of employment,

but also as the most powerful engine of the state's economic progress,

innovation and global competitiveness. Minister in charge Bhupendra Singh

Chaudhary said that Uttar Pradesh is setting new dimensions of trade,

technology and investment with BRICS countries. According to the data of the

financial year 2025-26, Uttar Pradesh's total exports with BRICS member and

partner countries have been more than US$ 5.36 billion (about $ 3,938 million

to member countries and $ 1,429 million to partner countries). Machinery,

garments, leather, carpets and precious stones are being exported from the

state to many countries of the world.

Uttar Pradesh's much-talked-about One District One

Product (ODOP) scheme has done unprecedented work in connecting local

talent and traditional crafts with global markets. MSME Minister Bhupendra

Singh Chaudhary stated that ODOP has created 3.16 lakh jobs so far, providing

margin money of approximately Rs. 897 crore to over 20,000 people.

Additionally, the Vishwakarma Shramik Samman Yojana has empowered

4.41 lakh traditional craftspeople with modern toolkits and training.

The Yogi government has launched innovative initiatives like

the Chief Minister Yuva Udyami Vikas Abhiyan (CM YUVA) to connect

youth with self-employment. Under this initiative, interest-free loans are

being provided without guarantee, with the aim of establishing 1 million new

micro-enterprises over 10 years. Additionally, under the PLEDGE scheme, MSME

parks have been approved in 12 districts of the state to develop them,

providing a better ecosystem for industries. This important meeting was

formally inaugurated in the presence of Jitan Ram Manjhi, Minister of Micro,

Small and Medium Enterprises, Government of India. He elaborated on the growth

of the MSME sector in the country and future plans. On the second day of the

program, members of various delegations from BRICS countries toured the

historic buildings of Agra.

Hindusthan Samachar / Abhishek Awasthi