Mumbai, Sept 13: Maharashtra Minister of State for Finance and Planning Ashish Jaiswal has pitched Mumbai as the venue for the next BRICS Summit, while seeking greater investments from BRICS countries in data centres and digital infrastructure in the state.
Speaking on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit 2026, Jaiswal said he attended the event at the direction of Maharashtra Chief Minister and highlighted the state’s potential as a major investment destination.
Jaiswal said Maharashtra wants to host the next BRICS Summit in Mumbai and use the global platform to showcase the state’s industrial, economic and infrastructure capabilities.
He said Maharashtra’s strategic location, established infrastructure and economic strength make it well placed to attract investments from BRICS members and partner economies.
The minister particularly highlighted Nagpur as a key investment hub, citing its central location within the country and scope for future infrastructure development.
Jaiswal also pointed to Maharashtra’s power generation capacity and extensive water infrastructure as advantages for industries requiring dependable resources. He said the state’s relatively strong availability of electricity and its network of dams could provide a supportive environment for large digital infrastructure projects.
“Maharashtra has significant potential for data centres,” Jaiswal said, stressing the growing importance of digital infrastructure.
He also indicated that BRICS-linked investment and financial institutions could help provide funding support for data-centre projects and encourage the development of a broader digital ecosystem in Maharashtra.
The minister’s remarks come amid rising demand for data storage, cloud computing and other digital services, increasing the need for locations with reliable power, connectivity and investment-ready infrastructure.
Jaiswal said Maharashtra intends to leverage the BRICS platform to attract large-scale investments and deepen economic partnerships with member and partner countries.
Hosting a future BRICS Summit in Mumbai, he added, would further strengthen the state’s ability to present its investment opportunities before an international audience.
