By Mewati Sitaram
Russian companies are seriously exploring new trade and investment opportunities in India, with a focus on expanding cooperation beyond traditional sectors such as energy and defence. This emerged at an interactive roundtable organised by the All India Association of Industries (AIAI) and the World Trade Centre, Mumbai, which brought together a high-level business delegation from the Russian Federation and over 150 Indian participants for structured B2B meetings.
Addressing the gathering, Ms Malahova Irina, lead specialist at the South Export Support Centre, Russia, said India and Russia share a time-tested economic and trade partnership. She said the objective of the interaction was to further strengthen bilateral ties and facilitate the entry of Russian businesses into Indian markets by connecting enterprises from both sides, particularly between Crimea and India.
Irina said Russia remains a key source of quality products such as wine, spirits, distillery products and mineral water. She added that while bilateral engagement has traditionally focused on energy, defence and capital goods, there is a strong intent to diversify the trade basket and deepen economic cooperation.
Dr Vijay Kalantri, president of AIAI and chairman of the World Trade Centre, Mumbai, said the strategic relationship between India and Russia has remained resilient over the years and was recently reinforced during the Russian president’s state visit. He noted that bilateral trade has grown rapidly in recent years and expressed confidence that it could reach $100 billion by 2027. He also acknowledged the widening trade deficit but said sustained engagement and mutual trust would help address the imbalance.
Highlighting India’s investment potential, Kalantri said the country’s large consumer base and investor-friendly policies offer significant opportunities for joint ventures and local manufacturing, particularly in Maharashtra. He said new sectors such as spirits, tourism and coolants are emerging areas of cooperation.
Ms Priya Pansare, director of trade and investment promotion at the World Trade Centre, Mumbai, said the interaction aimed to convert strong bilateral intent into concrete outcomes. Russian delegates shared insights on regional investment policies and expressed interest in joint ventures, technology transfer, smoother financial transactions and improved logistics connectivity.
Editor in Chief : Mewati SItaram
