India invites regional and inter-regional groups to the 18th BRICS summit in New Delhi, seeking to transform the gathering into a wider platform for cooperation on economic development and strategic issues within the Global South.
India has widened the guest list for the BRICS summit in New Delhi, inviting regional and inter-regional groupings including the Gulf Cooperation Council, ASEAN, the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, the African Union and BIMSTEC as it seeks to turn the meeting into a broader forum for the Global South. The move underscores New Delhi’s effort to deepen ties across Asia, Africa, West Asia and Latin America and the Caribbean, while advancing cooperation on trade, investment, supply-chain resilience, development finance and reform of multilateral institutions.
The 18th BRICS summit is scheduled for 12 and 13 September in New Delhi, with leaders from all 11 member states expected to attend alongside partner countries and outreach participants. The expanded bloc now includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Indonesia, while its partner set comprises Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Uganda, Uzbekistan and Vietnam. India officially announced the summit in late August, setting its theme as “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability”.
According to the reports, the summit will be held at Bharat Mandapam and form a centrepiece of India’s chairmanship year. New Delhi has framed that chairship around a people-centred agenda that emphasises practical economic co-operation rather than confrontation with the West. That agenda includes farmer-focused agriculture, people-centred urban development, women-led development, a more capable mobility network, a skilled workforce, support for start-ups and the internationalisation of small and medium-sized enterprises.
The meeting is also expected to address wider global economic and strategic concerns. The agenda, as outlined by officials, includes trade and finance, artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure, climate resilience, energy security, food security and the resilience of supply chains. India is also highlighting disaster risk reduction, global health architecture, smart grids, the energy transition, a circular economy and nature-based solutions as part of its pitch to present BRICS as a platform for development co-operation among emerging economies.
Disclaimer: This article is intended to inform and educate, not to recommend or endorse any financial product, investment or strategy. Please consider your own financial circumstances and seek professional advice where appropriate before making financial decisions.
