Mumbai Hosts BRICS Global Impact Forum Ahead Of 18th Summit

Mumbai is set to host the second edition of the Global Impact Forum (GIF) at The Taj Mahal Palace on September 5 and 6, just a week before the 18th BRICS summit in New Delhi. The two-day summit will mark the forum’s debut in India and will focus on leveraging cultural heritage and civilisational exchange to drive cross-border business ties across the bloc.

The event is expected to be attended by high-profile delegates, including Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Union ministers Piyush Goyal, Raksha Khadse, and Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, as well as other CMs and Union ministers, along with foreign diplomats. Around 50 companies from the BRICS countries and the extended bloc are expected to participate, with around 500 delegates attending the event.

The programming will feature panel discussions and workshops spanning traditional medicine, martial arts, classical dance, literary crosscurrents, and indigenous heritage. The event is designed to deliver immediate commercial traction, particularly within the startup and venture capital space.

According to Russian Federation's Deputy Consul General in Mumbai, Aleksandr Fursov, bilateral trade between Russia and India hit nearly $70 billion in 2024, up from just under $64 billion the previous year. He noted that soft power plays an essential supporting role in trade and that cultural components are significant for international relations to develop.

The Federation's Vice Consul for Protocol, Matvei Fetisov, highlighted the resilience of bilateral ties, pointing to joint ventures like the BrahMos missile project. He said that such events help celebrate cultures and create long-standing partnerships between countries.

The event’s strategic timing highlights India's expanding economic footprint within the five-nation grouping. The GIF aims to look beyond conventional geopolitical and financial frameworks, using shared history, creative expression, and intellectual systems as the bedrock for multilateral trade and enterprise.

The BRICS Global Impact Forum is an international soft power festival that aims to bring together business, culture, and diplomacy. The event is expected to provide a platform for companies to network and explore business opportunities, particularly in the startup and venture capital space.

In the context of India's growing economic influence, the BRICS Global Impact Forum is significant as it brings together the five BRICS nations - Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa - to discuss trade, culture, and diplomacy. The event is expected to provide a boost to India's economic ties with the other BRICS nations and promote cultural exchange.

The success of the BRICS Global Impact Forum will depend on its ability to deliver immediate commercial traction and create long-standing partnerships between countries. With its focus on soft power and cultural exchange, the event has the potential to play a significant role in promoting trade and diplomacy between the BRICS nations.

In conclusion, the BRICS Global Impact Forum is an important event that brings together business, culture, and diplomacy. With its focus on soft power and cultural exchange, the event has the potential to promote trade and diplomacy between the BRICS nations and provide a boost to India's economic influence.