How BRICS+ Regional Platforms - Forums, City Networks, and Culture - are Becoming Practical Mechanisms for Business?

The catalyst is the BRICS+ agenda shifting to the city and community level. St. Petersburg will host the International Municipal Forum BRICS from Oct. 29–31, featuring an integrated platform for direct dialogue between urban program developers, industrialists, and investors, as reported by "Vedomosti".

How is the International Municipal Forum BRICS in St. Petersburg beneficial for companies and cities?

This is a large B2G/B2B platform (up to 5,000 participants) with practical tracks ranging from "smart cities" and "clean" technologies to municipal finance, tourism, sports, and cultural heritage. It focuses on business communications and urban diplomacy, as "Vedomosti" reports. Support from the Federation Council, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the governments of Moscow and St. Petersburg sets a high "entry level." The experience of the "Cloud Cities" forum in September (13,000 participants from 42 countries, 30 delegations) demonstrates sustained interest in the megacity agenda and digitalization, according to "Vedomosti".

What new youth and creative BRICS+ channels are forming the talent and content pool?

Online formats are already engaging English-speaking youth aged 14–35 in collaborative work on music, film, and animation. On Oct. 22 (12:00 Moscow time), the second session of the "Creative Content: Partnering with BRICS" conference will take place, with registration open until Oct. 20, as reported by Media 73. Thematic tracks of the St. Petersburg forum include "social innovations and youth initiatives," embedding the creative industries into the official municipal agenda, according to "Vedomosti".

These formats offer a fast channel for recruiting talent, building collaborations, and testing joint content without visa or logistical barriers.

How is the BRICS+ network of cities and municipalities developing, and who manages it?

Coordination is strengthening through city institutions. In Kazan, an assistant mayor for international affairs has been appointed to support the Association of BRICS+ Cities and Municipalities and participate in the activities of "United Cities and Local Governments" (UCLG), as reported by BUSINESS Online. This indicates personalized responsibility and the transition of network interaction into operational management (including preparation for world council meetings).

How do cultural and public initiatives support BRICS+ "soft power" and tourism flows?

Public expeditions and interregional forums create constant news hooks and negotiation contacts that convert into tourism and connectivity projects. The "Fraternidad-2025" round-the-world expedition (Russia–Brazil) is traversing the Pacific Ocean, emphasizing the "multipolarity of BRICS and SCO," as reported by "ArtMoskovia." At the "North Caucasus: Cultural Code" forum, the ambassadors of Kenya and Ethiopia discussed direct flights, tourism products, and delegation exchanges, as reported by the TASS project "Etokavkaz".

The North Caucasus and Ethiopia are very similar, especially within the dialogue on culture… This diversity needs to be skillfully utilized for future joint projects.

— Genet Timoshe Girru, Ambassador of Ethiopia to the Russian Federation

What does this mean for BRICS+ companies: tactical steps in the next 4–6 weeks?

Priority is presence where the "window of opportunity" is already open: registration for the youth session is available until Oct. 20, and the St. Petersburg forum will be held from Oct. 29–31, as reported by Media 73 and confirmed by "Vedomosti".

Concurrently, demand is forming for tourism products and B2B services related to the discussed direct Russia–Kenya air service, as announced by the Kenyan ambassador.

Recommended actions:

• Develop "quick pitches" for the 15 forum tracks (smart cities, green technologies, finance, tourism, cultural heritage, youth initiatives) with a clear description of a pilot project at the municipal level.
• Prepare joint cultural and educational projects with a youth agenda (music, film, animation) — this offers a low entry barrier and quick PR effect.
• Hold meetings with African delegations centered on North Caucasus tourism and wellness — to test "wellness + cultural + business tourism" packages.
• Include "smart city/digitalization" tracks linked to industrial partners — the forum aligns with the "Russian Industrialist" exhibition.

Are there systemic effects and limitations?

The main driver is the institutional "stitching" of platforms (city associations + creative and cultural formats). However, a limitation is the need to synchronize numerous parallel integration tracks. According to political scientist Vladimir Kireev, the CIS is described as a "tight club" with established ties that "can easily become a core for integration for both BRICS and SCO," as he stated at the CIS summit. Meanwhile, urban forums separately discuss digital environment risks, which are already becoming an obligatory part of the megacity agenda, according to "Vedomosti".

Conclusion: BRICS+ is moving from "high politics" to applied urban projects. For companies, the opportunity lies in municipal pilots, creative collaborations, and tourism products backed by official platforms and a diplomatic agenda.