THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU
MUMBAI, AUGUST 20, 2026
In a move aimed at placing Mumbai more firmly on the global
map of business events, the Jio World Convention Centre (JWCC), in partnership
with the Maharashtra Convention Bureau (MCB) and the International Congress and
Convention Association (ICCA), has launched a Conference Ambassador Programme
to bring major international conferences, congresses and business events to the
city.
The initiative, described as a first-of-its-kind effort in
India, seeks to enlist leading association members and industry experts as
champions for international conference bids. The programme combines the
professional networks and domain expertise of Indian leaders with JWCC’s
bidding capabilities and the global knowledge network of ICCA, creating a
coordinated mechanism to position Mumbai as a destination for knowledge
exchange, innovation and business events.
Under the programme, selected Conference Ambassadors will
identify potential international association events, mobilise support from
Indian industry and institutions, contribute expertise to bid proposals and
represent Mumbai before international decision-making bodies. JWCC will support
them through the bidding process, relationship-building and destination
marketing, while a dedicated Conference Ambassador Grant will provide financial
assistance for eligible expenses such as bid preparation, international travel
and site inspections.
The initiative comes as business events assume a growing role
in the global economy. According to the Events Industry Council’s 2026 Global
Economic Significance of Business Events study, prepared with Oxford Economics,
business events in 2025 brought together 1.65 billion participants across more
than 180 countries and generated $1.3 trillion in direct spending. Including
indirect and induced effects, the sector supported $3.1 trillion in business
sales, $1.8 trillion in GDP and 24.2 million jobs worldwide.
For India, the programme is intended to convert the country’s
expanding professional and institutional networks into greater participation in
the international conference circuit. International congresses provide not only
economic benefits but also platforms through which researchers, policymakers,
business leaders and professional communities exchange expertise, build
collaborations and shape future agendas.
The initiative also builds on the emerging business-events
ecosystem in Maharashtra, spearheaded by the Maharashtra Convention Bureau,
described as India’s first state-led convention bureau and announced at IMEX
Frankfurt in Germany in 2025. ICCA, which represents the international meetings
industry, has joined the programme as Knowledge Partner, bringing its sectoral
expertise and international association network to the initiative.
JWCC, which opened in 2022, has already hosted a series of
major international conferences and congresses, including the World Congress of
Accountants, International Baccalaureate Global Conference, ICANN Community
Forum, Asian Seed Congress, International Federation of Landscape Architects
Asia-Pacific Regional Congress, World Green Building Congress, WordCamp Asia,
Global Fintech Fest, International Olympic Committee Session and KubeCon +
CloudNativeCon India.
The convention centre has also secured a pipeline of
international events for Mumbai, including the International Congress on
Occupational Health 2027, FDI World Dental Congress 2027, IDF World Dairy
Summit 2027, URO Asia – Urological Association of Asia Congress 2028, World
Federation for Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology Congress 2029, World Congress
of Anaesthesiologists 2030 and the 50th SICOT Orthopaedic World Congress 2030.
The Maharashtra government has backed the initiative,
pointing to India’s improving standing in the global meetings industry.
“The Conference
Ambassador Programme represents an important step in advancing Maharashtra's
position in the global business events landscape,” said Sanjay Khandare, Additional
Chief Secretary, Tourism, Government of Maharashtra. He noted that India’s
position in the ICCA rankings had improved from 37th in 2022 to 26th in 2025,
reflecting the country’s growing potential as a destination for international
conferences and congresses.
Khandare said such events went beyond attracting delegates,
creating platforms for knowledge exchange, professional collaboration and
innovation while generating wider economic value.
Open to active association members and industry professionals based in India, the programme will select Ambassadors on the basis of their ability to champion an international conference bid, influence local and international stakeholders and contribute to a successful bid.
Those selected will receive access to bid assets, expert guidance, site-inspection support, publicity and government-relations assistance, along with networking opportunities, peer-learning initiatives and expert pitch coaching.
