Udaipur to host BRICS conference again after a decade, senior officials from 15 countries expected

Udaipur: The lake city of Udaipur is set to host a major BRICS gathering once again, a decade after it last did so in 2016. The Competition Commission of India will organise a conference of heads and senior officials of competition authorities from BRICS member and partner nations at the Taj Fateh Prakash Palace on 8th August. Senior officials, diplomats and heads of competition authorities from 15 countries, including India, are expected to take part.

District authorities have completed preparations for the event, with various departments assigned responsibilities covering the welcome of foreign delegates, security, transport, hospitality and tourism visits. According to the district collector's office, foreign delegates will begin arriving from Friday. The main conference will take place at Taj Fateh Prakash Palace on 8th August, while the delegation will depart from Udaipur on 9th August. A detailed plan has been drawn up to manage their reception, transport, security and sightseeing throughout their stay.

Cultural dinner held during Jaipur visit

Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma attended a special cultural programme and dinner on Thursday held in honour of BRICS ministers visiting Jaipur. Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jitin Prasada were among those present, alongside senior BRICS representatives. Deputy Chief Minister Diya Kumari and Industry and Commerce Minister Colonel Rajyavardhan Rathore also attended the event.

Chief Minister Sharma said hosting the BRICS conference of industry and trade ministers was a matter of pride for Rajasthan, adding that he was confident the event would encourage global investment and industrial cooperation in the state. Foreign guests were welcomed in keeping with Rajasthan's rich cultural traditions.

Trade and industry ministers' meeting held in Jaipur

Ahead of the proposed BRICS summit in New Delhi in September, a series of high-level meetings has begun in Rajasthan. A meeting of trade and industry ministers took place in Jaipur from Thursday, attended by Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal along with representatives from various countries. Discussions covered trade, industry, investment, tourism and cooperation, with the outcomes expected to feed into the agenda of September's BRICS summit.

Delegates to experience the city's heritage

As per directions from the Competition Commission of India, foreign guests will be welcomed at Maharana Pratap Airport in traditional Rajasthani style, with tilak, garlands, bouquets and folk cultural performances. Deputy Director of Tourism Shikha Saxena has been given responsibility for these arrangements.

A city tour has also been planned for the delegation, taking guests to City Palace, Jag Mandir, Sajjangarh (Monsoon Palace) and Fateh Sagar Lake, among other major attractions, offering them a glimpse of Mewar's historic heritage, culture and rich tourism identity.

Horticulture and tourism departments given key responsibilities

The district administration has directed the horticulture department to arrange an adequate supply of garlands and bouquets for welcoming foreign delegates, while the tourism department has been tasked with overseeing the entire welcome, sightseeing and hospitality arrangements. Various departments are coordinating to ensure the event's success, showcasing Udaipur's cultural heritage, Rajasthani hospitality and global tourism appeal to the visiting delegates.

2016 disaster management ministers' meeting

Udaipur previously hosted a BRICS event in 2016, when the second meeting of BRICS disaster management ministers was held on 22–23 August. That meeting adopted the historic Udaipur Declaration, regarded as a significant document among BRICS nations in the field of disaster risk reduction. In 2026, during India's BRICS chairmanship, Udaipur has once again been given the opportunity to host.