Opportunity Alone Doesn’t Create Trade. Connectivity Does

Source: The Economic Times | Original Published At: 2026-10-05 05:59:00 UTC

Key Points

• BRICS brings together major consumer markets, manufacturing centres and resource-rich countries, representing nearly half the world’s population and 26% of global trade.
• The 2026 BRICS Summit’s New Delhi Declaration advanced the BRICS Logistics Supply-Chain Cooperation Framework, along with digitalised value chains, closer customs cooperation and public-private partnership models.
• Intra-BRICS merchandise trade reached $1.2 trillion in 2025-26, up from $84 billion in 2003, but still represents only about 5% of global trade.
• Reliable corridors, cold chains, warehousing, ports, rail and multimodal networks are described as strategic infrastructure for reducing delays and food loss.
• Digital connectivity, real-time cargo visibility, digital documentation and integrated customs systems are presented as key to anticipating and managing supply-chain disruptions.
• The article cites Dubai’s single-window model and the India-UAE digital customs corridor between Nhava Sheva and Jebel Ali, which reduced clearance times by 40%, as scalable BRICS models.
• The UAE is described as having a role in connecting major BRICS producers such as India and China with consumers across the Middle East and Africa.