New Delhi is set to host the inaugural iBRICS Summit 2026 on September 12-13, a landmark event bringing together more than 500 institutional investors, finance ministers, and business leaders. These delegates collectively manage an estimated US$1 trillion in sovereign capital, aiming to forge new investment pathways across the BRICS economic bloc and its partner countries.
Convened by the Sovereign Wealth Fund Institute (SWFI), the summit will run concurrently with the 18th BRICS Leaders’ Summit. Representatives from sovereign wealth funds, public pension funds, and prominent family offices from Gulf and BRICS nations will gather at The Oberoi to explore direct investment opportunities.
Connecting Capital with Key Projects
The primary objective of the iBRICS Summit is to directly link this vast pool of capital with "bankable projects" across 21 BRICS member and partner countries. Key sectors targeted for investment include critical infrastructure development, the energy transition, strategic critical minerals, and advancements in technology and digital capacity.
Lakshmi Narayanan, Chairman of SWFI and Lead Co-Chair of iBRICS, highlighted the shift towards direct engagement. "For twenty years, cross-border investments within BRICS were discussed politically and executed bilaterally through outside intermediaries," Narayanan stated. "With tariffs and sanctions stressing traditional corridors, funds and ministries need direct access to allocate capital differently. We are providing that dedicated venue alongside the Leaders’ Summit."
Navigating Global Economic Shifts
The summit takes place as BRICS economies navigate a complex global landscape characterized by evolving trade patterns, pressures from US tariffs, international sanctions, and the increasing costs associated with traditional dollar-clearing systems. This context underscores the urgency and importance of establishing independent financial corridors.
Dushyant Khanna, Co-Chair of iBRICS New Delhi 2026, emphasized the practical aspect of the event. "BRICS countries hold a massive share of world reserves and are building the rails to move capital independently," Khanna noted. "The missing link has been matching that capital directly with bankable projects. September 12 is where project owners and global allocators sit down to make that match."
Focus on Financial Connectivity and Non-Dollar Systems
The first day of the summit will feature a closed-door roundtable involving 250 principals, focusing on non-dollar settlement corridors and specific capital deployment targets. Participants are also expected to sign the Sovereign Capital Compact, a significant step towards formalizing new investment frameworks. The second day will facilitate pre-matched bilateral deal tables and detailed sector-specific discussions.
Financial connectivity will be a prominent discussion point. Following confirmation of the BRICS payments task force by RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra, sessions will delve into linking fast-payment networks such as India’s UPI and Brazil’s Pix. Interoperability between central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) will also be a key area of exploration, signaling a move towards more integrated and independent financial systems within the BRICS bloc.
The open plenary, the BRICS Pay panel, and the Sovereign Capital Compact signing on September 12 will be open to accredited media, while the crucial bilateral deal discussions will continue behind closed doors through September 13.