On April 30, 2026, the first extended meeting of the Business Interregional BRICS Forum Ambassadors was held at the St. Petersburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry. This event marked a key step in preparation for the main autumn event – the forum, which positions St. Petersburg as a center for international business cooperation within the BRICS format. During the meeting, by a representative of India, which holds the BRICS Presidency this year, an initiative was voiced to shift the Forum's focus to the development of business relations in the business community. The organizers received numerous similar requests from other foreign representatives who attended the Forum in previous years.
“The Business Interregional BRICS Forum, or VIII IMBRICS Forum for foreign participants, is the successor to the International Municipal BRICS Forum, which has been held annually in St. Petersburg since 2019. The Business Interregional BRICS Forum is an event for the business communities of the BRICS countries that will build sustainable communications for the development of export-import cooperation, as well as attract funding for infrastructure investment projects in Russian territories. The Forum's target audience is business representatives from the Russian cities and regions, representatives from the BRICS countries and partner states and other like-minded countries," said Mikhail Cherepanov, Chairman of the Organizing Committee for the Business Interregional BRICS Forum.
We would like to remind that the upcoming Forum will be held on November, 19-21, 2026, in St. Petersburg, and will be attended by over 5,000 delegates from over 60 countries. The event's business program will include panel discussions focused exclusively on economics. The program will be based on proposals from members of the Organizing Committee, co-organizers, and Forum partners. It will include a large B2B negotiation area, sessions, roundtables, sections, presentations of integration projects across the Russian territories, cooperation agreement signing ceremonies, business breakfasts and lunches, evening receptions, cultural and excursion programs for foreign participants, and an awards ceremony for delegates arriving in Russia. The key element of the Forum will be the B2B negotiation area, where line-up meetings with potential partners will be held to conclude contracts.
The current meeting set a high pace of preparations for the November Forum. Participants agreed to hold regular working meetings and create joint industry groups on key areas of the Business Interregional BRICS Forum business program.
A work plan for the year was also approved, including a visit by a large delegation to India in September this year. In November, Indian representatives will form a return delegation consisting of numerous entrepreneurs of various levels. The work plan also includes visits to several Russian regions, where the Organizing Committee will hold conferences to prepare for the Business Interregional BRICS Forum in 2026, with the aim of expanding the agenda of the upcoming forum and attracting business communities from Russian regions interested in establishing international relations with representatives of friendly states.
A work plan for the year was also approved, including a visit by a large delegation to India in September this year. In November, Indian representatives will form a return delegation consisting of numerous entrepreneurs of various levels. The work plan also includes visits to several Russian regions, where the Organizing Committee will hold conferences to prepare for the Business Interregional BRICS Forum in 2026, with the aim of expanding the agenda of the upcoming forum and attracting business communities from Russian regions interested in establishing international relations with representatives of friendly states.
