With Avarna Jain at the helm of the BRICS Women’s Business Alliance (WBA) in 2026, one might ask what it is like when women’s economic role is elevated from a matter of policy to an actual growth strategy.
Jain is well placed to provide some answers. In her capacity as Global Chairperson of the BRICS WBA for the duration of India’s presidency, she has made a point of putting women’s leadership and entrepreneurship front and centre on the bloc’s business agenda. This comes as BRICS countries seek to forge deeper ties in areas ranging from trade and technology to sustainable development.
From Women’s Participation to Women-Led Growth
The shift is of particular import for the woman entrepreneur. Jain wants to see women-led firms advance to the next level, evolving from small concerns into scalable operations that can tap into the wider BRICS economies rather than being confined to a single market.
To that end, the 2026 plan for the Alliance is to put in place better conditions for these enterprises, be it through greater access to capital and innovation or by scaling proven models across member states.
From Inclusion to Ownership: A New Growth Agenda for Women
Jain, who also holds the top post at RPSG Lifestyle and is Vice Chairperson of Saregama India, does not see women’s economic empowerment as merely a social goal. It is an economic strategy in its own right, one that underpins job creation and long-term growth.
She made as much clear at the BRICS WBA Women-Led Development Summit in New Delhi, underscoring the importance of opening up finance, markets, skills and mentorship to women. Such an approach has the potential to alter the tone in multilateral forums; the emphasis is no longer on inclusion for its own sake but on how to help women put down roots in global value chains and build bigger companies.
What Could BRICS’ Focus Mean for Women Entrepreneurs?
Capital is where the most significant gains are to be had. There is often an uphill battle for women-owned businesses to obtain venture capital or formal funding, but a firmer stance on financial inclusion at the BRICS level may well spur the kind of dedicated investment platforms and credit support they need.
Then there is the matter of technology. The digital public infrastructure in India, with its UPI-inspired systems, shows how digital tools can open up payments and services. If similar models are adopted in other BRICS nations, it will make it easier for entrepreneurs to conduct cross-border commerce and manage their affairs.
Under Jain’s watch, we may also see more robust linkages between business leaders in emerging economies via new partnerships and knowledge-sharing.
The Real Test: Can Policy Translate Into Business Growth?
Ultimately, the question is whether this translates into hard numbers. Should Jain’s tenure result in policies and training that deliver real market access and funding, then women’s economic empowerment will be something more than a talking point at conferences.
It would serve to validate a broader proposition: that the woman-led enterprise is no niche part of the economy but a force for resilient, inclusive growth in the BRICS region.
