Mumbai will host the second edition of the Global Impact Forum on September 5 and 6, bringing together diplomats, business leaders, scholars, artists and investors from BRICS countries ahead of the bloc’s leaders’ summit in New Delhi.
The two-day event, titled Global Impact Forum II: Civilisational Legacy, will be held at The Taj Mahal Palace. It will be the forum’s first edition in India and is expected to serve as a cultural and economic platform in the run-up to the BRICS Summit scheduled for September 12 and 13.
AP Globale is organising the forum in collaboration with the Maharashtra government. The event is designed as an international soft-power gathering focused on culture, heritage, traditional knowledge and creative exchange.
Forum to Highlight Shared Civilisational Connections
Unlike conventional international conferences that focus mainly on geopolitics, security and finance, Global Impact Forum II will place cultural understanding and shared history at the centre of its discussions.
The programme will initially spotlight Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa while also creating opportunities for engagement with the wider BRICS grouping.
Organisers aim to explore how historical connections, knowledge systems and cultural practices can strengthen cooperation among participating countries.
Sessions will examine traditional health systems such as Ayurveda, Traditional Chinese Medicine and indigenous approaches to wellness. Martial arts and physical traditions, including Kalaripayattu, Kung Fu, Tai Chi and Capoeira, will also feature in discussions on cultural identity, discipline and modern fitness.
Arts, Literature and Cinema to Feature at Mumbai Forum
The event will also include discussions on literature, cinema, classical dance, music and sport.
Dialogues connecting prominent cultural figures such as Rabindranath Tagore and Leo Tolstoy are expected to highlight how literature and creative ideas have helped build long-standing relationships between societies.
Panel discussions, keynote sessions and immersive workshops will focus on the cultural intersections among BRICS nations while connecting traditional heritage with contemporary opportunities.
Organisers say the programme will also examine how cultural familiarity can support collaboration in technology, startups, entrepreneurship and investment.
Around 500 Delegates Expected to Attend
Around 500 delegates are expected to participate in the two-day forum.
Attendees are expected to include ambassadors, diplomats, policymakers, business executives, academics, cultural personalities, entrepreneurs, institutional investors and representatives of family offices.
Companies from BRICS countries and the bloc’s expanded membership are also expected to take part.
Business networking sessions, startup presentations and policy discussions will aim to turn cultural connections into commercial and institutional partnerships.
India-Russia Relations to Feature in Discussions
Representatives from the Russian diplomatic community in Mumbai have highlighted the longstanding political, cultural and economic relationship between India and Russia.
Aleksandr Fursov, Deputy Consul General of the Russian Federation in Mumbai, pointed to the role of cultural exchange, trade and artistic connections in strengthening bilateral ties.
Russian Consulate representative Matvei Fetisov also highlighted cooperation between the two countries in sectors including energy, defence and manufacturing.
Such discussions are expected to underline how cultural diplomacy can complement strategic and economic partnerships.
Global Impact Forum Links Heritage With Modern Growth
AP Globale Director Janhavi Pawar said the forum aims to bring together the different strengths of BRICS countries by using shared civilisational links as a foundation for deeper cooperation.
The event will seek to connect similarities in history, philosophy and cultural traditions with modern growth areas such as technology, startups and investment.
Organisers hope the discussions will lead to practical partnerships rather than remaining limited to symbolic cultural exchange.
With the forum taking place shortly before the BRICS Summit in New Delhi, the Mumbai gathering is expected to carry added diplomatic significance.
By combining heritage, creative expression, business engagement and policy dialogue, Global Impact Forum II aims to demonstrate how soft power can strengthen trust and encourage long-term cooperation among BRICS societies, institutions and businesses.
