Why BRICS is Coming to Mountainous Dagestan — and What Opportunities It Opens for Business?

The Second International Forum "Sustainable Development of Mountain Territories" has launched in Makhachkala, where BRICS International Forum President Purnima Anand called for developing a unified concept for the development of "BRICS mountains" and emphasized Dagestan's role as a nodal platform for such dialogue, as reported by "Etokavkaz.ru" (https://etokavkaz.ru/news/236126).

What Statements and Actions Set the Tone for the Forum in Makhachkala?

Key signals include the course towards uniting "BRICS mountains," an invitation extended to Dagestan's leadership to India, and an emphasis on jointly developing a concept for mountain territory development. At the opening, Anand stated the importance of combining the experience and approaches of the mountainous regions of the BRICS countries and discussing them on a unified platform. She added that this implies care for nature and respect for mountain peoples, as conveyed by the organizers (https://etokavkaz.ru/news/236126).

"I would like to develop this concept of connecting Dagestan with other mountains — the BRICS mountains... We need to understand the deep love for nature and care for it by mountain peoples."

Additionally, Anand invited the head of the republic, Sergey Melikov, and the Chairman of the government, Abdulmuslim Abdulmuslimov, to India. This step aims to institutionalize contacts between Dagestan and BRICS partners, as indicated in the report on the visit (https://nur-05.ru/rubriki/news/item/prezident-foruma-briks-priglasila-rukovodstvo-dagestana-v-indiyu).

The protocol part of the event included laying flowers at the Warrior-Liberator monument and the Eternal Flame in Makhachkala, underscoring the official status and tone of the visit, as described by "Dagestanskaya Pravda" (https://dagpravda.ru/novosti/glava-pravitelstva-dagestana-i-prezident-foruma-briks-pochtili-pamya-t-voinov-osvoboditelej/).

What Systemic Consequences for the Mountain Territories Agenda Does This Forum Lead To?

The forum positions the mountain agenda as a joint initiative for BRICS and the CIS, linking it to the UN's declared 2025 Year of Mountain Tourism. The CIS Council of Heads of State's decision on the "Year of Mountain Tourism" and the parallel hosting of the Travel HUB "Commonwealth" tourism forum in Makhachkala create a framework for synchronizing regional projects, according to "Etokavkaz.ru" (https://etokavkaz.ru/news/236126).

This enhances Makhachkala's role as a platform for interregional and international cooperation in mountainous areas, ranging from sustainable development methodologies to the exchange of best practices in tourism and training. Anand's statements and the position of Dagestan's leadership signal readiness to prioritize the "mountain economy" in inter-country dialogue.

What Tactical Opportunities Are Opening Up for Business Right Now?

Immediate entry points for businesses include tourism and hospitality, infrastructure, and personnel training. These are precisely the areas on the agenda of the Travel HUB "Commonwealth," running concurrently in Makhachkala.

Specific priorities include: - development of mountain, ecological, and rural tourism; exploring interregional and international cooperation; engagement in the hotel industry; improving the quality of tourist infrastructure; education and personnel training. These segments are discussed at the Travel HUB venues, as reported in the forum's information (https://etokavkaz.ru/news/236126); - institutional contacts with India at the regional leadership level, through the invitation extended by Anand, creating an opportunity for B2G communications and project development on a bilateral basis, as confirmed in the report on the invitation (https://nur-05.ru/rubriki/news/item/prezident-foruma-briks-priglasila-rukovodstvo-dagestana-v-indiyu); - participation in thematic sessions of the current forum (held in Makhachkala from Oct. 1 to 3) and the youth agenda "Voices of the Mountains," which expands the region's personnel and project reserve, as reflected in the program and organizers' comments.

Conclusion: The Makhachkala forum is elevating the "mountain agenda" from a local to an inter-country focus, with specific points of convergence for businesses in tourism, infrastructure, and personnel. For BRICS+ companies, this represents a clear logistical and institutional entry into Russia's mountainous regions, directly linked to partners in India and the CIS.