Security to joint Indo-Russian economic projects — why Putin aide Patrushev’s New Delhi visit was significant

New dynamics of cooperation between India and Russia are being explored on a wide range of issues of national and international security.

“Ways have been outlined for further cooperation between Russia and India in the field of security, as well as in the implementation of a number of joint economic projects,” Russia’s Security Council stated after its Secretary Nikolai Patrushev met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval in New Delhi on Wednesday.

It added that a thorough exchange of views on topical regional and international problems took place as Patrushev called on PM Modi and NSA Doval and emphasised the progressive development of the India-Russia Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership.

The 71-year-old former Director of Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) was in the Indian capital to attend the 18th meeting of the National Security Advisors (NSAs) of member countries of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). The gathering of top security officials in the SCO space deliberated on the situation in the field of security and stability in the region.

In spite of the volatile global geostrategic situation, India and Russia continue to advance cooperation in key areas.

Earlier this month, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar co-chaired the India-Russia Inter-governmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological and Cultural Cooperation (IRIGC-TEC) with Russian Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov, who is also the Minister of Industry and Trade to unlock the “full potential” of India-Russia bilateral trade and economic relations.

During the meeting, the results of the activities of working groups in the field of industry, energy, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, finance, and civil aviation were summed up.

“The reports of the working groups clearly demonstrate how extensive the agenda of Russian-Indian relations is. This once again confirms the importance of the Intergovernmental Commission for the systematic study of the entire range of areas of cooperation,” noted Manturov.

With India being Russia’s key partner in the trade of agricultural products and foodstuffs in South Asia, as many as 20 leading Russian manufacturers and exporters of agricultural products have also toured India over the past fortnight.

Maxim Markovich, Director of the Department for International Cooperation and Export Development of Agricultural Products of the Russian Ministry of Agriculture, spotlighted that the trade turnover between the two countries has increased by 60% and amounted to $1.7 billion in 2022.

While the Russians are keen to access the Indian markets for fish, pig products and animal feed, the Indian side has expressed interest in exporting dairy products to the Russian market.

It was also observed that over the past five years, Russian exports of agricultural products to India have grown almost five times and approached $ 800 million.

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