India Hosts 13th BRICS Urbanisation Forum, Focuses On Resilient Cities
The 13th BRICS Urbanisation Forum commenced in New Delhi on Thursday under India’s BRICS Chairship, bringing together ministers, senior government officials and urban development experts from BRICS member countries to discuss strategies for building inclusive, sustainable and resilient cities.
The two-day forum, hosted by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs at Sushma Swaraj Bhavan, is being attended by representatives from Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, the United Arab Emirates and Indonesia.
Inaugurating the forum, Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Manohar Lal said the platform offers an opportunity to place urban development more firmly within the global development agenda. The forum is being held under the theme “Cities for People: BRICS Cooperation for Inclusive and Resilient Urban Futures.”
Highlighting India’s urban development priorities, the minister said inclusive urbanisation, climate- and disaster-resilient infrastructure, stronger institutions and digital innovation remain key pillars of the country’s development journey.
India is hosting the BRICS Urbanisation Forum for the fourth time, following previous editions in New Delhi in 2013, Visakhapatnam in 2016 and a virtual edition in 2021.
Welcoming the participating delegations, Housing and Urban Affairs Secretary Srinivas Katikithala said the forum has emerged as an important platform for member countries to exchange best practices, deepen mutual understanding and strengthen long-term cooperation in urban development.
During the inaugural session, Manohar Lal released a publication titled “India’s Urban Transformation: Stories of Change,” showcasing urban development initiatives and best practices undertaken by states and Union Territories across the country.
The opening session was followed by a high-level plenary chaired by the Union Minister, where member nations shared their perspectives on urban challenges, opportunities and future aspirations through country statements.
On the sidelines of the forum, India and the Russian Federation held a bilateral meeting co-chaired by Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs Tokhan Sahu and Russian Deputy Minister of Construction, Housing and Utilities Yury Mutsenek. The discussions focused on strengthening cooperation in sustainable urban development.
Both sides reviewed progress on a proposed Memorandum of Understanding on Sustainable Urban Development and expressed their commitment to finalising the agreement at the earliest. The talks covered areas such as urban planning, affordable housing, municipal infrastructure, sustainable construction technologies, capacity building and urban governance.
Several other bilateral engagements also took place during the event, including meetings between Iran and Russia, Iran and China, and Russia and the United Arab Emirates.
As part of the programme, delegates visited key urban development projects in and around the national capital, including the New Parliament Complex and the India Gate-Kartavya Path precinct, providing participants with first-hand insights into India’s ongoing urban transformation initiatives.
