The VI International Municipal Forum of BRICS Countries (IMF BRICS) is set to take place at the Central Exhibition Complex "Expocenter" on August 27-28, according to the press service of the Department for External Economic and International Relations of the City of Moscow (DEIR).
The forum is poised to be the largest international platform for representatives from government and business to exchange best practices and discuss key issues in municipal cooperation. The event is organized with support from the Administration of the President of the Russian Federation, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Roscongress Foundation. The Government of Moscow serves as the general partner of the forum.
The ceremonial opening will be led by Andrey Kondrashov, the General Director of TASS. Welcome speeches are expected from Russia's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sergey Lavrov, and the Mayor of Moscow, Sergey Sobyanin. The event will also feature appearances by parliamentarians, political analysts, and officials from Global South countries. On August 27, Mikhail Gusman, the First Deputy General Director of TASS, will moderate the session "Development of Parliamentary Diplomacy at the Capital and Major Agglomeration Level in BRICS Countries."
Delegations from 126 countries are expected to participate in the IMF BRICS, along with representatives from 89 regions of Russia. Over 5,000 participants from 500 cities worldwide will gather to discuss pressing issues in economics, digital technologies, ecology, urban infrastructure, transportation, healthcare, education, and culture.
The forum aims to facilitate direct contacts between municipal authorities and business community representatives, providing opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises to find new business partners and explore markets in China, India, the Gulf countries, and other regions, according to the DEIR press service.
Discussions and Exhibitions
The IMF BRICS program includes more than 70 events, with special sections, sessions, and roundtables addressing topics such as municipal infrastructure development, the implementation of digital technologies, sustainable development goals, and the investment attractiveness of megacities.
The DEIR will co-organize the section "Creating Innovative Platforms for Ongoing Dialogue Between Cities and Regions - BRICS Partners" and the roundtable "The Role of Local Self-Government in Tourism Development."
A large-scale exhibition will also be featured at the forum, with sections including "Smart City," "Urban Environment: A City for People," "Retail," "Artificial Intelligence and Digital Technologies," "Investments and Public-Private Partnerships," and "ESG." The exhibition program will include the IV International Exhibition of Information Technologies "DigitalTech +" and the IV International Exhibition "Machine Engineering: Strategies and Technologies."
The 2023 IMF BRICS, held in St. Petersburg, attracted over 7,000 participants, including foreign guests from more than 200 cities worldwide and representatives from Russian regions. During that forum, 112 business program events were held, and 210 cooperation agreements were signed.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Artur Janas/Pixabay
Based on materials from TASS