Mumbai To Host BRICS Global Impact Forum Ahead Of 18th Summit, Bringing Soft Power And Business Together

Just a week before the 18th BRICS summit convenes in New Delhi, Mumbai will host the second edition of the Global Impact Forum (GIF) at The Taj Mahal Palace from September 5 to 6. The two-day event aims to capitalize on cultural heritage and civilisational exchange to forge cross-border business ties across the bloc. The theme for the forum is "Civilisational Legacy," which sets it apart as an international soft power festival.

Notable attendees include Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Union ministers Piyush Goyal, Raksha Khadse, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, along with other CMs and Union ministers, foreign diplomats, and approximately 500 high-profile delegates from BRICS nations and the extended group. The forum will host panel discussions and workshops on topics ranging from traditional medicine and martial arts to classical dance, literary crosscurrents, and indigenous heritage.

Russian Federation's Deputy Consul General in Mumbai, Aleksandr Fursov, highlighted that bilateral trade reached nearly $70 billion in 2024, with a significant focus on fertiliser production which could benefit Maharashtra's agriculture industry. The Federation's Vice Consul for Protocol, Matvei Fetisov, emphasized the significance of cultural components in strengthening bilateral ties, citing joint ventures like the BrahMos missile project.

The forum is expected to provide immediate commercial traction, particularly for startups and venture capital ventures, with a focus on deep tech, healthcare, sustainable logistics, smart mobility, and fintech.