Aleksandr Fursov, Deputy Consul General of the Russian Federation in Mumbai, said, “Russian and Indian relations have had a longstanding tradition blending politics and culture. Recent years have shown that Indo-Russian relations have been developing rapidly. Trade has reached a new high between the two countries after 2024, with the number reaching almost US $ 70 billion in 2024 and less than US $ 64 billion last year. We are expecting trade to reach a new benchmark in 2026.” (PTI)

 Mumbai: The second edition of the Global Impact Forum (GIF II), which will serve as an international precursor to the official BRICS summit in Delhi, will be held on September 5-6 in Mumbai. Civilisational Legacy’ will be the theme of the event, which will highlight the shared histories, ancient medicine, sports and arts of BRICS nations to foster collaboration over competition.

Organized by AP Globale in collaboration with the Government of Maharashtra, GIF II has been conceptualised as an international soft power festival, exploring how culture, knowledge systems, heritage and creative expression can build meaningful connections between nations.

The event is expected to host 500 high-profile delegates, including ambassadors, diplomats, business leaders, scholars, cultural figures, entrepreneurs, investors and family offices. The programming will feature panel discussions, keynote conversations and immersive workshops exploring the cultural intersections and shared traditions across the participating nations.

Aleksandr Fursov, Deputy Consul General of the Russian Federation in Mumbai, said, “Russian and Indian relations have had a longstanding tradition blending politics and culture. Recent years have shown that Indo-Russian relations have been developing rapidly. Trade has reached a new high between the two countries after 2024, with the number reaching almost US $ 70 billion in 2024 and less than US $ 64 billion last year. We are expecting trade to reach a new benchmark in 2026.”

“Cultural components are very significant for such international relations to develop, and a solid understanding of culture will help both countries advance together. Scope for cooperation is vast in this case, as Indian vendors have been selling their goods in Moscow. Indian artists perform in Moscow, and simultaneously, Russian dance troupes have been performing in India. Cultural fondness is the cornerstone of improving relations between two countries,” he added.

Matvei Fetisov, Vice Consul – Protocol, Russian Consulate, said, “Today, Russia is the second country in the world in terms of exports to India not only on skilled forces but also on sectors we collaborate on such as energy security and military capability. The Russian and Indian collaboration in manufacturing BrahMos missiles is of common knowledge. So, political regimes may change, but the unified cultural, political and economic interests of the two countries remain strong.”

The programme will bring together diverse traditions and disciplines from Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine to Kalaripayattu and Kung Fu/Tai Chi, classical dance and Capoeira, Tagore and Tolstoy, cinema, music, sport and indigenous traditions, highlighting how knowledge, art and cultural expression have travelled across borders and continue to influence contemporary societies.

Janhavi Pawar, Director, AP Globale, said, “GIF II aims to bring together the diverse strengths of the BRICS nations, using culture and shared civilisational connections as a bridge for deeper collaboration. By exploring similarities in philosophy, history and legacies to startups, investment, technology, the Forum aims to turn shared cultural understanding into meaningful opportunities and partnerships.”

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