Maharashtra pitches Mumbai as host for next BRICS Summit, eyes data-centre investment

Maharashtra has expressed its interest in hosting the next BRICS Summit in Mumbai, with the state simultaneously positioning itself as a destination for investment in data centres and digital infrastructure.

Ashish Jaiswal, Minister of State for Finance and Planning, said he attended the iBRICS Summit 2026 on the instructions of the Maharashtra Chief Minister and used the occasion to present the state's investment case. He said he wanted the next BRICS gathering to be held in Mumbai, describing it as an opportunity to draw substantial investment into Maharashtra and to build a strong pathway of engagement with the grouping.

Jaiswal said the state's location, infrastructure and economic capacity give it considerable scope to attract capital from BRICS countries and other partner economies. He singled out Nagpur, which he described as the centre of the country within Maharashtra, as a key location for future investment and infrastructure development.

According to the minister, Maharashtra's power and water infrastructure are central to its pitch. He said the state is self-reliant in power and has built significant dam infrastructure, creating conditions suited to industries that need dependable energy and resources. On that basis, he argued that Maharashtra holds strong potential for data centres.

Jaiswal also pointed to the possible role of BRICS investment and HWF in building a financial support system for data-centre projects in the state. Such backing, he said, could help create a wider ecosystem around data centres and strengthen Maharashtra's place in the digital economy.

The outreach comes amid rising demand for data storage, cloud computing and related digital infrastructure, which favours states able to offer reliable power, connectivity and investment-ready facilities. For Maharashtra, hosting a future BRICS summit would offer an additional platform to showcase its industrial and infrastructure capabilities to investors from the grouping, with the state seeking to use the forum to attract large investments and build stronger economic linkages.