India Advocates for Cultural Empowerment at 9th BRICS Culture Ministers’ Meeting

St. Petersburg, Russia: At the 9th BRICS Culture Ministers’ Meeting held in St. Petersburg, Arunish Chawla, Secretary, Ministry of Culture, Government of India, highlighted the crucial role of culture in global development strategies. Emphasizing its potential as a tool for empowerment, inclusion, and mutual understanding, Chawla called for placing culture at the heart of international development agendas.

In his address, Chawla reiterated India’s commitment to harnessing the power of culture to foster sustainable development and global cooperation. This aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of integrating Culture, Creativity, Commerce, and Collaboration to build a more equal, sustainable, and inclusive world.

Echoing India’s stance during its G20 presidency in 2023, Chawla advocated for recognizing culture as a standalone goal in the post-2030 global development agenda. He underscored culture’s transformative potential in driving economic growth, social inclusion, and sustainable development. This approach complements India’s cultural renaissance efforts, which focus on preserving its rich cultural heritage while encouraging innovation and creativity.

India also highlighted the significance of creative industries and innovation, stressing that BRICS nations should leverage their collective cultural strengths to drive economic growth and social development. Key areas of focus included promoting people-to-people exchanges, grassroots cultural diplomacy, and education.

The Indian delegation to the BRICS Culture Ministers’ Meeting and the International United Cultures Forum was led by Arunish Chawla and included Joint Secretary Lily Pandeya, Director Yashveer Singh, and Deputy Secretary Shah Faesal from the Ministry of Culture.