New Delhi, [India], March 12, 2025: BRICS CCI WE, the Women Empowerment Vertical of the the BRICS Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BRICS CCI) hosted the 5th edition of the BRICS CCI WE Annual Women’s Summit & Felicitations 2025, celebrating the spirit of women-led development. The theme for this year’s Summit was ‘Women Changemakers: Transforming the World, Shaping the Future’. A Commemorative Book- She for Her celebrating the achievements of trailblazing Women Changemakers from diverse backgrounds and nationalities was also unveiled on the occasion.
Global Women Icons felicitated were Dr. Kiran Bedi, IPS (Retd) and Former Lt. Governor of Puducherry, H.E. Ms. Bizunesh Meseret, Deputy Ambassador, Embassy of Ethiopia Ms. Lebogang Zulu: National Chairperson – BRICS Women’s Business Alliance South Africa; Ms. Dia Mirza, Actor, Producer, Eco- Investor, UNEP Goodwill Ambassador; Ms. Chiou See Anderson, Head of Delegation W20 Australia, Ms. Geovana Quadros, Líder de Gênero Startup20 – Task Force ESG; G20 Brasil 2024; PRESIDENT AT INSPIRING WOMEN, Dr. Sulochana Segera, Chairperson, Women in Management (WIM), Ms. Elena Shifrina, CEO/Founder, BioFoodLab, Ms. Tatiana Seliverstova, Director of the International Acceleration Program “”BRICS Business Incubator”” and “”SCO Business Incubator,” Ms. Christina Li (Li Ling), Vice President of ANTA Group and Ms. Yang Xiaoping, Associate Professor and Senior Fellow at National Institute of International Strategy, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (NISS, CASS).
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BRICS CCI WE Trailblazers Women Icons Felicitations included Dr. Uma Sharma, Chairperson, Kailash Group of Hospitals, Ms. Sushma Rohtas Goel, Chairperson, Omaxe Foundation, Ms. Dilafrose Qazi, Nobel Peace Prize Nominee & Founder & Vice Chairperson of SSM College of Engineering & Technology & Management (Srinagar), Dr. Valli Arunachalam, Semiconductor Technologist & Philanthropist; Ms. Kavitha Ramachandragowda, Co-Founder & Ex. Director Routematic, Ms. Rajeshwari Kumari, Indian Sports Shooter and Ms. Anshika Verma, IPS (Young Icon).
Delivering the Keynote address, Chief Guest, Smt. Rekha Gupta, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Delhi, applauded the government’s initiatives in promoting gender equality. “From education to financial inclusion, India is witnessing a transformation where women are becoming equal stakeholders in the nation’s progress,” she stated.
Guest of Honor Dr. Kiran Bedi emphasized the need for sustained efforts in empowering women. “Nari Shakti is at the heart of a progressive society. Policy interventions must translate into actionable outcomes that uplift women in every sphere.”
Addressing the audience, Guest of Honor, Smt. Smriti Irani, Former Cabinet Minister said, “Women’s empowerment is no longer just a goal—it is an economic imperative. Through targeted programs, we are ensuring that every woman has the opportunity to contribute to India’s growth story.”
The Valedictory Address was delivered by Smt. Meenakshi Lekhi, Former Minister of State for External Affairs and Culture of India, who underscored the significance of mentorship programs in fostering the next generation of women leaders. “By providing the right platforms, we can accelerate action towards gender parity,” she said.
Welcoming the dignitaries, Ms. Ruby Sinha, President, BRICS CCI WE, highlighted the pivotal role of women in shaping industries and economies. “Women’s rights cannot be seen in exclusion, they are the very foundation of human rights. We need more women with a seat at the table when it comes to decision making” she said.
Ms. Dia Mirza emphasized the importance of sustainability. “Women are the backbone of sustainable development. It is imperative to integrate eco-consciousness into leadership narratives,” she stated.
Delivering the opening remarks, Dr. BBL Madhukar, Co-Chairman and Director General, BRICS CCI, reiterated the chamber’s commitment to empowering women entrepreneurs. “Women are redefining leadership, and it is our duty to support them with policy, mentorship, and financial access,” he noted.
Addressing the summit, Mr. Sameep Shastri, Vice Chairman, BRICS CCI, remarked, “The government’s strategic policy interventions have equipped women to take on leadership roles, fostering an inclusive and sustainable growth model.”
Mr. Ruhail Ranjan, Director (Finance), BRICS CCI, spoke on the financial inclusion of women and the need for more women in decision-making roles. “Empowering women through financial literacy and investment opportunities is key to sustainable economic progress,” he said.
Other Senior representatives from the BRICS CCI leadership team viz. Mr AK Singh, Vice Chairman, Ms. Shabana Nasim, Ex. Director and Ms. Ankita Sachdeva, Joint Director were also present at the Summit. The insightful panels saw deliberations between global women icons and experts such as Ms. Kalpana Sharma, Former Additional Secretary to Lok Sabha Parliament of India, Senior Advisor- BRICS CCI Mr. Agendra Kumar, Managing Director, Esri India, Ms. Anuradha Chowdhary, Founder & CEO, ZeroTo3 Collective, Ms. Shormishtha Ghosh, Governing Body Member, BRICS CCI & MD Intandem Consultancy and Mr. Aayush Ailawadi, TV Presenter & Multimedia Journalist who highlighted the role of technology in empowering women, and other esteemed speakers who discussed challenges and solutions in advancing women’s leadership globally.
The Summit was graced by the presence of official representatives from Embassies of Venezuela, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Russian Federation, Australia, USA, Republic of China, Belarus, Kingdom of Lesotho, Republic of Iran, Kazakhstan, Republic of Iran, Israel and South African High Commission.
The event concluded with the Convocation Ceremony of the 2nd Edition of BRICS CCI WE Global Women Leadership Program a key initiative to mentor and support emerging women leaders across industries held by BRICS CCI WE in association with Nippon Paint India.
The event was supported by esteemed partners, including Esri India, Aditya Birla Group, Fore School of Management, Ashrai, and Radha Agro Industries. Sheatwork joined as the Knowledge Partner, while the Gifting Partners included Suta, Defence Bakery, House of Nandini, The Secret Dew, and Peeli Kothi.
About BRICS CCI WE:
The BRICS Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BRICS CCI) is a not-for-profit organization that serves as a beacon of economic collaboration among BRICS+ nations and partner countries. It fosters an environment where businesses can thrive, innovate, and expand through various initiatives, forums and networking opportunities. The prime focus of the Women’s Vertical of BRICS CCI, BRICS CCI WE is on women empowerment initiatives and policies across geographies. The objective of the women’s wing is to create an enabling support system for women entrepreneurs and professionals across geographies.
