In the context of rapid urban growth and new technological challenges, as well as changing global connections, municipalities are playing an increasingly important role in international affairs. It is at this level that decisions affecting the quality of life for millions of people are made — from water supply systems to "green" energy and digital services. In this regard, the International Municipal Forum of BRICS (IMF BRICS) has become one of the key platforms for practical interaction between cities of BRICS+ countries and other states, including Central Asia.
This forum was created as a platform for communication between regional and local authorities, businesses, and experts to share best practices and technologies that promote sustainable urban development. Currently, it encompasses over 70 countries and 2000 cities and regions, and in 2024, around 6000 participants from 101 countries, including Brazil, South Africa, Vietnam, Iran, and Kyrgyzstan, will gather at the event.
The program of the IMF BRICS 2025 includes 15 areas concerning the main aspects of territorial and societal development. Discussion topics will include ecology, innovation, high technologies, digitalization, healthcare, urban planning, youth policy, education, culture, and sports. Additionally, the forum will present directions for inter-parliamentary interaction and municipal diplomacy.
The Youth Hub will become an important part of the forum's work. Youth leaders, scholars, and entrepreneurs from BRICS+ countries will discuss best practices and opportunities for international cooperation, including internships and accelerators.
For Central Asia, and particularly for Kyrgyzstan, participation in the IMF BRICS is of special significance. Bishkek, Osh, and other cities face typical challenges of developing urbanized areas, such as population growth, infrastructure shortages, and the need to modernize transport systems. Kyrgyzstan, actively participating in Eurasian integration and having the status of a dialogue partner of BRICS, gains access to proven solutions without the conditions and restrictions typical of the West.
Kyrgyz municipalities are already showing interest in the Russian experience in digital governance, energy efficiency, and small business development. The forum will also discuss opportunities for adapting various solutions, such as unified transport cards and smart lighting systems, considering local conditions and budgets.
The support of the forum by key Russian institutions, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Presidential Administration, ensures political stability and the practical feasibility of initiatives. This is especially important for countries where local self-government institutions are just beginning to develop.
Since 2020, the IMF BRICS has been included in the official event plan of the countries chairing BRICS, highlighting its institutional significance. Its role as a mechanism for supporting sustainable urban development and strengthening ties between sister municipalities was established in the Beijing Declaration of the XIV BRICS Summit (2022) and the Kazan Declaration of the XVI Summit (2024). These documents link the forum's activities with the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals by 2030, making it part of the global agenda focused on the interests of the majority of countries.
The initiative has received recognition through a Letter of Appreciation from the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, sent in October 2024 to the Chairman of VARMSU L.V. Tyagachev. In this letter, the president noted the forum's contribution to the development of friendly countries and the strengthening of international cooperation. For Kyrgyzstan, this is a signal that participation in such formats opens access to technologies and fosters the strengthening of bilateral ties with Russian regions on a mutually beneficial basis.
Thus, the IMF BRICS represents not just a platform for discussions, but a practical ecosystem of a new type of urban diplomacy, where Bishkek can learn from Kazan, and Osh can collaborate with Delhi or Johannesburg. In a multipolar world, the future of cities is not created in Brussels, but in those spaces where sovereignty, pragmatism, and real contributions to the quality of life of people are valued.
