Mumbai to Host BRICS Friendship Cities Conclave on 11-12 Aug

The Mumbai city's rapid transformation through investments in transport infrastructure, urban redevelopment, climate resilience and digital governance mirrors many of the opportunities and challenges facing major cities across the BRICS counties cities.

While every BRICS city has its own challenges, many of the challenges they face are increasingly shared.

As part of India's BRICS Presidency, Mumbai will host the BRICS Friendship Cities Conclave on 11 and 12 August, bringing together ministers, city leaders, policymakers, industry leaders and internationally renowned urban experts from cities across the BRICS nations—Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, the United Arab Emirates and Indonesia.

Rajesh Aggarwal, Chief Secretary, Government of Maharashtra, says, “Maharashtra is proud to support the BRICS Friendship Cities Conclave 2026 in Mumbai. This platform reflects our commitment to building stronger global partnerships and advancing sustainable, inclusive urban growth.”

We are confident this Conclave will drive meaningful collaboration, strengthen city-to-city ties, and deliver impactful outcomes for BRICS cities, he said.

Mumbai First will be hosting this prestigious event with the joint support from the Government of India and the Government of Maharashtra. The conclave will focus on one of the defining questions of our time: how can cities harness climate action, technology and AI-driven innovation to build more resilient and inclusive urban communities?

Held under the theme "Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability," the conclave will showcase practical urban solutions and successful city-led initiatives from across the BRICS nations. Discussions will feature experiences ranging from Beijing's efforts to improve air quality and Brazil's public transport innovations to Russia's cyber resilience, AI-enabled urban governance, climate adaptation, affordable housing and future-ready infrastructure. The conclave is designed to move beyond dialogue by encouraging city to city partnerships that can translate successful urban experiences into practical action.

As one of the world's fastest-growing metropolitan regions, Mumbai provides an ideal setting for these conversations.

Narinder Nayar, Chairman, Mumbai First, says,“This Conclave is about moving from dialogue to action. Mumbai First plan to bring cities together to build partnerships that translate into real progress— across infrastructure, mobility, investment, and innovation.”

The BRICS Friendship Cities Conclave offers an opportunity to learn from initiatives that have already delivered results, strengthen long-term partnerships among BRICS cities while opening new avenues for investment, innovation and sustainable urban development.

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