Mumbai Hosts BRICS Friendship Cities Conclave 2026

Mumbai will host the BRICS Friendship Cities Conclave 2026 on August 11-12, bringing together experts and policymakers from BRICS and partner countries to discuss strategies for making cities more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable.

The two-day conclave will be held at the Four Seasons Hotel and will feature urban administrators, climate experts, and specialists from India, Russia, China, South Africa, Egypt, Indonesia, and other BRICS countries. The event is themed 'Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability' and will focus on key issues confronting rapidly growing cities.

One of the opening sessions, 'Protecting Coastal Cities: Managing Sea-Level Rise, Coastal Erosion, and Flood Risks', is particularly relevant to Mumbai, given its coastal location. Retired IAS officer Sanjay Ubale, Indonesia's Nurina Widagdo, Shanghai Smart City Development Institute president Sheng Xuefeng, and Egypt's Dr Alaaeldin Sayed Ewase are among the speakers.

The conclave will also focus on urban heat, with a session on 'Cooling Cities' examining nature-based solutions and climate-responsive design. Climate adaptation expert Dr Vishwas Chitale, Gates Foundation's Dr Oommen John, and Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Commissioner Abhinav Goyal will be among the speakers.

Transportation will be another key area of discussion, with a session examining integrated and low-carbon transport infrastructure, alongside international experiences from China, Brazil, and Russia. Maharashtra Institution for Transformation CEO Praveen Pardeshi and MMRDA Metropolitan Commissioner Sanjay Mukherjee will participate in the session.

Air pollution will also be discussed, with experts from India, China, and South Africa examining air-quality management, vehicle emissions, industrial pollution, and PM2.5 reduction. Inclusive housing and community-led urban regeneration will be the focus of another session, featuring MHADA Vice-President and CEO Sanjeev Jaiswal and experts from Malaysia and Iran.

The concluding session will examine AI-enabled urban governance, including its potential to transform public service delivery and decision-making. Maharashtra Additional Chief Secretary Aseem Gupta and experts from India and Russia will participate.

The organisers aim to use the conclave as a platform for sharing urban governance practices and developing cooperation towards resilient, inclusive, innovative, and sustainable cities. The event is expected to provide valuable insights and solutions for addressing the urban challenges faced by Mumbai and other rapidly growing cities.

The BRICS Friendship Cities Conclave 2026 is a significant event, given the rapid urbanization and development taking place in Mumbai and other BRICS cities. The conclave will provide a platform for experts and policymakers to share their experiences and expertise, and to develop cooperation and strategies for addressing the common challenges faced by these cities.

In the context of Mumbai's urban challenges, the conclave is particularly relevant. The city is facing a range of issues, including climate change, congestion, air pollution, and housing shortages. The conclave will provide a valuable opportunity for experts and policymakers to discuss these issues and to develop strategies for addressing them.

Overall, the BRICS Friendship Cities Conclave 2026 is an important event that will bring together experts and policymakers from around the world to discuss the challenges and opportunities faced by rapidly growing cities. The event is expected to provide valuable insights and solutions for addressing these challenges, and to contribute to the development of more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable cities.

The conclave will have significant implications for Mumbai and other BRICS cities, as it will provide a platform for sharing best practices and developing cooperation towards addressing common urban challenges. The event is expected to contribute to the development of more sustainable and resilient cities, and to improve the quality of life for citizens in these cities.

In conclusion, the BRICS Friendship Cities Conclave 2026 is a significant event that will bring together experts and policymakers from around the world to discuss the challenges and opportunities faced by rapidly growing cities. The event is expected to provide valuable insights and solutions for addressing these challenges, and to contribute to the development of more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable cities.