Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide emphasized that cities are built not only through concrete but also through culture, speaking at the Namaste Mumbai Conclave 2026 on July 2, 2026. The event, a first-of-its-kind collaboration between the Bombay Chamber of Commerce & Industry and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), aimed to transform Mumbai into a globally recognized creative capital and innovation hub.
Keynote Address Highlights Creative Identity
Delivering the keynote address, Smt. Ashwini Bhide, IAS, Municipal Commissioner of BMC, stated that while Mumbai is undergoing one of the country's largest infrastructure transformations, the next phase of growth must equally focus on strengthening the city's creative identity, cultural vibrancy, and public spaces. "Cities are built not only through concrete but through culture. Ease of doing business, ease of living and ease of movement are important, but a truly liveable city also requires ease of expression. People need spaces where they can express themselves, experience the creativity of others and participate in the city's cultural life," she said.
Highlighting Mumbai's unique character, she added, "Creation comes out of chaos. Mumbai has always turned its challenges into innovation and creativity. The new infrastructure we are building must now become a foundation for nurturing the next generation of artists, entrepreneurs and innovators." Referring to projects such as the Coastal Road and Metro network, she said these investments should not only improve mobility but also create new public spaces that enrich civic life. She called for stronger collaboration between government and industry to build a city that is more beautiful, culturally vibrant, and globally attractive, adding that infrastructure alone cannot define Mumbai's future.
Bombay Chamber President Sets the Stage
Welcoming the gathering, Sudhanshu Vats, President of the Bombay Chamber of Commerce & Industry and Managing Director of Pidilite Industries, reflected on the Chamber's nearly 190-year association with Mumbai's evolution. He called for the city's next phase of growth to be driven not only by infrastructure but also by culture, tourism, and collaboration. "Bombay Chamber's story is closely interlinked with the story of Mumbai. As the city undergoes an unprecedented infrastructure transformation, we must now equally invest in its cultural identity, tourism and quality of life. Through Namaste Mumbai, we hope to bring together ideas, innovation and partnerships that will help build a more liveable, globally competitive and culturally vibrant Mumbai," he said.
Panel Discussions on Branding and Creative Capital
The conclave featured two engaging panel discussions. The first session, "Branding Mumbai - One City, Many Identities," moderated by Priyanka Sinha Jha, COO of Screen Academy, included Smt. Ashwini Bhide, IAS, Jamnadas Majethia, Ajit Andhare, and Gajendra Ahire. The panellists explored how Mumbai can build a unified global brand by strengthening its heritage, theatre, cinema, public spaces, and cultural infrastructure.
The second session, "Mumbai 3.0 - The Creative Capital Opportunity," moderated by Latha Venkatesh, Executive Editor of CNBC-TV18, brought together Shri Vishwas Mote, Dr. Indu Shahani, Shri Rajiv Jalota, and Uday Khanna. The discussion highlighted the importance of integrating infrastructure with culture, education, tourism, and industry partnerships to position Mumbai among the world's leading creative cities.
The Grand CivicTech Fund Quest
The afternoon session transitioned from dialogue to action with The Grand CivicTech Fund Quest, organized jointly by the Bombay Chamber and the BMC. This platform connected promising CivicTech startups with investors and civic leaders, showcasing innovative technology-driven solutions to address Mumbai's urban challenges.
Representing the BMC, Shashi Bala, Chief - Business Development and Director of the SMILE Council - CivicTech Incubator of BMC, outlined the vision of the Society for Mumbai Incubation Lab to Entrepreneurship (SMILE) Council. She shared that SMILE currently supports 24 startups, with another 17-18 in the pipeline. "Our vision is to nurture entrepreneurs, transform innovative ideas into sustainable businesses and contribute to Mumbai's growth as an international business and innovation hub. What makes SMILE different is that startups don't just receive mentoring--they get the opportunity to test and refine their technologies in real-life civic situations by working closely with BMC departments, enabling solutions that can create a meaningful impact for the city," she said.
Ashith Kampani, Chair of the PE & VC Committee of the Bombay Chamber and Chairman of CosmicMandala 15 Securities Pvt. Ltd., welcomed the finalists and jury members, noting that the Fund Quest was conceived to bridge the gap between innovative CivicTech startups, investors, and government, enabling promising solutions to move from ideas to implementation.
Winners of the CivicTech Fund Quest
Ten shortlisted startups presented their innovations before an eminent jury of investors and industry leaders, evaluated on four parameters: Opportunity, Scalability, Capability, and Monetisability. Niramai Health Analytix Pvt. Ltd., led by Dr. Geetha Manjunath, emerged as the CivicTech Champion, while EcoBio Consulting Pvt. Ltd. and Saltech Design Labs Pvt. Ltd. were declared the First and Second Runners-up, respectively. In addition to cash prizes, the top three startups will receive structured mentorship from industry leaders to support their growth and market adoption.
The Namaste Mumbai Conclave 2026 and The Grand CivicTech Fund Quest together showcased a unified vision for Mumbai's future--one where creativity, culture, innovation, and entrepreneurship work hand in hand to shape the city's next chapter.
