Second BRICS Friendship Cities Conclave Held in Mumbai; Russia Highlights Digital Governance and Urban Infrastructure

Dragon Media News Desk

The second BRICS Friendship Cities Conclave was held in Mumbai on August 11 and 12 under India’s BRICS presidency, bringing together city representatives, government officials, diplomats, urban policy experts and private-sector participants to exchange experience on modern urban management, climate resilience, infrastructure, housing, transport and digital governance.

Held under the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability,” the two-day conclave aimed to move cooperation among BRICS cities beyond formal exchanges toward longer-term institutional partnerships.

Discussions focused on challenges commonly faced by major cities, including flooding and other climate-related risks, pressure on transport systems, housing shortages, growing infrastructure demand and the need to improve the efficiency of municipal services. Participants stressed the importance of sharing technology, policy experience and practical solutions for building more sustainable and future-ready cities.

The Russian delegation included representatives from Moscow and Kazan, along with officials from the Russian Consulate General in Mumbai and the Russian Trade Mission in New Delhi.

Arseny Karyakin, head of the International Relations Department of the Kazan City Council, presented Russian experience in international city cooperation, municipal governance, innovation and sustainable development. Dmitry Ontoev, an adviser with the Moscow Government’s Department of Information Technologies, participated in discussions on digital transformation, smart-city systems and technology-driven public services.

Russian representatives placed particular emphasis on digital solutions, modern urban infrastructure, municipal administration and the exchange of practical experience among cities.

The Russian Consulate General also organised a stand featuring MAX, Russia’s national messaging platform. According to the Russian side, participants at the conclave were introduced to the digital service, giving Moscow an opportunity to showcase a domestically developed digital product at a major international event under India’s BRICS presidency.

Maharashtra Governor Jishnu Dev Varma, speaking at the inaugural session, emphasised the importance of BRICS cities sharing knowledge, technology and best practices in order to promote sustainable, inclusive and future-oriented urban development.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde also highlighted the importance of cooperation in technology and innovation among BRICS countries to make modern cities more citizen-centred and efficient.

The conclave addressed several major themes, including climate and environmental resilience, future-oriented urban planning and mobility, inclusive urban development, and digital transformation in municipal governance.

At the conclusion of the two-day event, participants reaffirmed their interest in strengthening direct links between cities, exchanging experience and advancing practical cooperation in sustainable infrastructure, digital governance, mobility and the urban environment.

As BRICS expands, cooperation is increasingly extending beyond national governments to cities and local administrations. The Mumbai conclave was seen as part of this broader trend toward deeper urban diplomacy, technological exchange and joint responses to common development challenges.