India Will Host the 18th BRICS Summit
The 18th BRICS Summit will take place in New Delhi on September 12–13, 2026. The dates have been officially confirmed by the Press Information Bureau of the Government of India.
India holds the BRICS chairship in 2026 under the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.” Trade, investment, energy, financial cooperation and infrastructure connectivity are expected to feature in the discussions.
Specific summit decisions have not yet been announced. Any increase in trade or launch of new projects should therefore be treated as an expected outcome of the negotiations rather than an already agreed result.
INNOPROM India Will Take Place on September 9–11
The first INNOPROM India international industrial exhibition will be held at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi from September 9 to 11, immediately before the summit.
Organisers expect more than 200 exhibitors and over 10,000 visitors. The exhibition will cover approximately 10,000 square metres and include business meetings, industry discussions and negotiations between companies.
Holding the event immediately before the summit will allow businesses to present industrial and trade proposals ahead of intergovernmental talks. Its practical impact, however, will depend on signed contracts, financing arrangements and available logistics capacity.
Businesses Expect Energy and Fertiliser Exports to Grow
The summit could provide additional momentum for Russian energy and mineral fertiliser exports to India. The forecast was presented by Sammy Kotwani, head of the Indian Business Alliance and president of the Indian Cultural and National Centre SITA, according to Sberbank India.
Kotwani highlighted Russia’s significant role in supplying India with energy products and fertilisers. Fertiliser demand remains supported by the scale of India’s agricultural sector, making stable supplies and predictable prices strategically important for the country.
Russia and India have previously confirmed their intention to increase bilateral trade to $100 billion by 2030. The target is included in the joint statement following the India–Russia Annual Summit.
Trade Growth Requires Payment and Transport Solutions
Increasing energy and fertiliser supplies will require more than political agreements. Exporters need accessible payment channels, insurance, sufficient port capacity and reliable maritime or multimodal transport routes.
BRICS members are already discussing links between national fast-payment systems and central bank digital currencies. Such infrastructure could make cross-border transactions faster and less expensive, although its final model and implementation schedule have not yet been agreed.
The International North–South Transport Corridor remains an important option for Russia–India trade. The multimodal network combines rail, road and maritime sections through the Caspian region and Iran. Its commercial effectiveness will depend on coordinated tariffs, customs procedures and sufficient infrastructure capacity.
The September summit will ultimately be judged by practical outcomes, including supply contracts, workable payment mechanisms and transport solutions capable of reducing the cost and transit time of cargo moving between Russia and India.
Read also: Russia Prepares North–South Corridor Agreements With Qatar and Saudi Arabia
