Prime Minister (PM) of India, Shri Narendra Modi visited Vladivostok, Russia on September 4-5, 2019. It was the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Far East Region of Russia. He participated as the Chief Guest at the 5th Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) for 2019 at the invitation of President of the Russian Federation Mr Vladimir Putin and also attended the 20th India-Russia Annual Summit for 2019.
During his visit, PM recalled the visit to Russia for the India-Russia Summit of November 2001 as Gujarat chief minister as part of the then PM Late Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s delegation.
Guard of honour
PM received a guard of honour at the Vladivostok International Airport in the presence of Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Igor Morgulov.
List of MoUs signed
Following is the list of Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) signed between India and Russia:
- Joint Statement “Reaching New Heights of Cooperation through Trust and Partnership”.
- Joint Strategy for the Enhancement of India- Russia Trade and Investments.
- Agreement between the Government of the Republic of India and the Government of the Russian Federation on cooperation in the production of spare parts for Russian/Soviet military equipment.
- Agreement between the Government of the Republic of India and the Government of the Russian Federation on Cooperation in Audiovisual Co-production.
- MoU between the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways of the Republic of India and the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation on bilateral cooperation in the road transport and road industry.
- Memorandum of Intent between the Ministry of Shipping of the Republic of India and the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation on the Development of Maritime Communications between the Port of Chennai, Republic of India and the Port of Vladivostok, Russian Federation.
- Plan for cooperation between the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), Ministry of Finance, Republic of India and the Federal Customs Service (Russian Federation), for combating customs violations in 2019-2022.
- MoU between the Ministry of Energy of the Russian Federation and the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas of the Republic of India on the use of Natural Gas for Transportation.
- Program between the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas of the Republic of India and the Ministry of Energy of the Russian Federation on expansion of cooperation in oil and gas sector.
- MoU between Coal India Limited and Far East Investment and Export Agency to cooperate in coking coal mining projects implementation in the Russian Far East.
- Cooperation Agreement between Invest India and the Russian Direct Investment Fund for Investment Collaboration.
- Cooperation agreement between the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) & the Roscongress Foundation.
- MoU between the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry and the Autonomous Non-profit Organization Agency for Strategic Initiatives to promote New Projects.
- MoU between the Joint Stock Company NOVATEK and PETRONET LNG Limited on cooperation with respect to the joint development of downstream Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Business and LNG supplies.
- Agreement on Cooperation between Joint-Stock Company Rosgeologia and Srei Infrastructure Finance Limited;
MoU to promote Trade & Investments
India and Russia have signed 30 MoUs to promote trade and investment. Among those, 16 were in the private sector and the remaining 14 in government-to-government sector.
List of Commercial Documents signed by various Russian and Indian entities on the sidelines of the Prime Minister’s visit to Vladivostok
- MoU for the Manufacture and Assembly of Primary Trainer Aircraft, DAKSH between Yakovlev Design Bureau and Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML).
- MoU between Zarubezhneft and Sungroup Enterprises Pvt. Ltd.
- MoU between Far Eastern Mining Company and the State Trading Corporation of India Ltd.
- Cooperation Agreement between Far Eastern Mining Company and SUN Gold Eurasia.
- MoU between Autonomous Non-Profit Organization ‘Agency for Strategic Initiatives’ and the Global Education and Leadership Foundation.
- MoU between the Skolkovo Foundation and the Global Education and Leadership Foundation.
- MoU between National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) and Manav Rachna Vidyantariksha Pvt. Ltd. and JSC ROBBO.
- Letter of Intent (LOI) ‘Communicating Culture, Consolidating Relationships’ between Federal State Unitary Enterprise ‘Rossiya Segodbya’, International Information Agency, founder of the Russian Media Outlet “Sputnik Information Agency” and Zee Media Corporation Limited’s entity WION (World Is One News).
- MoU between Invest India and Skolkovo Foundation.
- Cooperation Agreement and Collaboration between RUS Education Pvt. Ltd. , Far East Federal University, and Far East Investment and Export Agency.
- Cooperation Agreement between autonomous non-commercial organization Far East Investment and Export Agency and SAS Fininvest LLP
- Cooperation Agreement on the implementation of investment project between autonomous non-commercial organization Far East Investment and Export Agency and KGK Sudima Evergreen Pvt. Limited and the Government of Zabaikalsky Krai.
- Agreement for the Establishment of the Mahatma Gandhi Centre between Far East Federal University, Nand & Jeet Khemka Foundation and the Global Education & Leadership Foundation.
- Cooperation Agreement between LLC RITE and Star Overseas Ltd.
- MoU between National Skill Development Corporation, Magic Billion and LS-Ruspacific Co. Ltd.
- MoU between Magadan Region Government and LLC SUN Eurasia;
- MoU between National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC) and Limited Liability Company Far East Mining Company
- Cooperation Agreement between NLC India Ltd (formerly Neyveli Lignite Corporation Limited) and Far East Mining Company
- Cooperation Agreement between Far East Mining Company and Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL).
- Cooperation Agreement between Far East Mining Company and MMTC Ltd (Metals and Minerals Trading Corporation of India).
- Cooperation Agreement between Limited Liability Company Far East Mining Company and Khanij Bidesh India Ltd (KABIL).
- Cooperation Agreement between Far East Mining Company and Coal India Limited (CIL).
- Cooperation Agreement between Russian Direct Investment Fund and UPL Limited on Joint investments in agriculture and crop protection market in Russian Federation
- MoU on mutual business collaboration (Financial Cooperation initiative for development of the Russian Far East and State of Tamil Nadu, India) between Joint Stock Company “The Far East and Baikal Region Development Fund” and Tamil Nadu Infrastructure Fund Management Corporation
- MoU between H-Energy Global Ltd and Joint Stock Company NOVATEK for cooperation in LNG sphere
- MoU between Far East Federal University (Vladivostok, Russian Federation) and Pandit Deendayal Petroleum University (Gandhinagar , Gujarat, Republic of India)
- Agreement of Intent on the implementation of the investment project of LLC KGK DV in Primorsky Territory
- Agreement between Volzhsky Abrasive Works and Murugappan Group
- Cooperation Agreement between Limited Liability Company “RITE” and Rooman Technologies Pvt. Ltd.
- MoU to explore the possibilities of developing renewable energy projects between State Development Corporation VEB.RF, Joint Stock Company Zarubezhneft, Havel Limited Liability Company, Indian Oil Corporation Limited and Sungroup Enterprises Private Limited
- International MoU between Amity Universities & Institutions, India and Ministry of Investment Development of Zabaikalski Krai, Russia
- MoU between Government of Chukotka autonomous Region (Anadyr, Russian Federation) and Amity University (New Delhi, Republic of India)
- MoU between FEFU Technology Entrepreneurship Fund (Russky Technopark) and Amity University
- Agreement on operating in an Advanced Special Economic Zone between JSC Far East Development Corporation and Limited Liability Company Far Eastern Natural Resources Limited (100% subsidiary of the Tata Power Co. Ltd.)
- Agreement of Intent on implementation of project on the territory of the Republic of Buryatia between the Government of the Republic of Buryatia and Star Overseas Ltd.
Visit to Zvezda Shipbuilding Complex
- PM Modi along with Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Zvezda shipbuilding complex and interacted with the management and workers of the shipyard.
- The Zvezda shipyard is being set up on the base of the Far Eastern Shipbuilding and Ship Repair Center by a consortium of Rosneft, Rosneftegaz and Gazprombank.
- The shipyard will produce heavy tonnage ships, offshore platform elements, ice-class vessels, special vessels, and other marine equipment
- The ships built at the shipyard will be used to deliver Russian oil and liquefied natural gas to world markets.
Bilateral High Level Tiger Forum 2020
- In a bilateral meeting held between PM Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin in the port city of Vladivostok in Russia’s Far East Region, India and Russia decided to hold a joint high level tiger forum in the year 2020.
- India welcomed Russia’s initiative to hold the Second International Tiger Conservation Forum in 2022. First forum was held in Saint-Petersburg, Russia in 2010.
Other Highlights
- Russia has plans to set up more than 20 Russian-designed nuclear units in India in the next 20 years.
- PM Modi accepted the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin to attend the 75th anniversary celebrations of the victory of the Russian Federation and the erstwhile Soviet Union in World War II scheduled to be held in May 2020 at Moscow, Russia.
- India invited Russian companies to invest in its oil refining and petrochemical projects. India-Russia hydrocarbon cooperation is a major pillar of India-Russia strategic partnership.
- India’s economic relations with Russia have improved and two countries were keen to realise the full potential of their ties.
- Russia launched the third export line at its largest coal terminal in the Far East region. It loaded the first cargo for Indian company JSW Steel.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the ‘Far East Street’ exhibition with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
20th India-Russia annual summit for 2019 held in Vladivostok, Russia
PM Modi participated in the 20th India-Russia Annual Summit for 2019 held in Vladivostok, Russia. He described Russia as a reliable partner and special friend.
- India and Russia decided to step up industrial cooperation and create new technological and investment partnership, especially in advanced high-tech areas, with an aim to increase bilateral trade to $30 billion by 2025.
- The bilateral merchandise trade between both countries was about $8.2 billion during 2018-19.
- They agreed to speed up preparations for signing of the India-Russia Intergovernmental Agreement on Promotion and Mutual Protection of Investments.
- They agreed to intensify work for eliminating trade barriers facilitated by the proposed Trading Agreement between the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and the Republic of India.
Russia proposes joint development of submarines with India
Russia has offered India the submarines for Navy’s Project 75I on the basis of an Inter Governmental Agreement (IGA). Under Project 75(I), India plans to indigenously construct 6 submarines for the Indian Navy at a cost of over Rs 40,000 crores.
- It has offered to jointly develop the AIP (Air-independent propulsion) for the submarine through IGA.
- India has ordered $14.5 billion worth of weapons from Russia.
5th Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) for 2019
PM Modi presided over the 5th Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) for 2019 as the Chief Guest in Vladivostok, Russia. India has the status of a guest country at the EEF 2019. He also addressed the plenary session of 5th EEF. He stated that India and Russia are beginning a new era of cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region to make it open, free and inclusive.
- India extended a credit line of $1 billion for the development of Russia’s Far East. This is the first-ever region-specific line of credit in a foreign country extended by India.
- PM launched ‘Act Far East’ Policy for Russia.
- PM emphasised India’s commitment to turn India into a $5 trillion economy by 2024 and elaborated some of the steps initiated by the country to achieve this target.
Bilateral meetings on the sidelines of 5th EEF
Meeting with Japanese PM Shinzo Abe
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe and discussed the bilateral ties shared between India and Japan.
i. Japanese PM Shinzo Abe will visit India in December 2019 for Indo-Japan Annual Summit 2019.
ii. They spoke on Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), the regional cooperation agreement that is being negotiated by 16 countries including those of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries.
iii. They shared similar views on the Indo-pacific region.
- Both leaders decided to hold the first 2 plus 2 ministerial meeting of Foreign and Defence ministers of both countries ahead of the annual bilateral summit in New Delhi.
- They also discussed to continue the trilateral meeting of India, Japan and the United States for enhancing regional cooperation.
Meeting with Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir bin Mohamad
Prime Minister Modi met the Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir bin Mohamad and held discussions to diversify the bilateral ties to benefit people in both the countries. He explained the rationale behind Indian government’s decision on Jammu and Kashmir and sought the extradition of radical televangelist Zakir Naik who is alleged for money laundering and inciting extremism.
Meeting with President of Mongolia Khaltmaagiin Battulga
PM met the President of Mongolia Khaltmaagiin Battulga and discussed a range of issues of bilateral interest, including strengthening of cultural, spiritual and people-to-people ties.
PM Modi visited India Business Pavilion called ‘India Lounge’
- Prime Minister Modi visited the pavilion, called ‘India Lounge‘ and launched an Indo-Russian Innovation Bridge, an online platform to bridge the gap between Indian and Russian startup ecosystems. The pavilion is with the support of the Roscongress Foundation of Russia.
- He also launched Startup India Kalyani EdTech Challenge where Invest India & Kalyani Group joined hands to support top Indian & Russian startups. The Challenge is open to all startups & innovators & will be hosted on Startup India website.
Cooperation in hydrocarbon sector for 2019-24 with Russia
India expressed cooperation in hydrocarbon sector for 2019-24 with Russia. Both sides affirmed their determination to deepen cooperation in the hydrocarbon sector, bilaterally and in third country projects in the Natural gas sector, Upstream & Downstream sector and in training, technology & third party cooperation.
About Russia:
♦ Capital: Moscow
♦ Currency: Russian ruble