During a high-level meeting with Russia’s First Deputy Prime Minister, Denis Manturov, last month, S. Jaishankar emphasised the need for the Russian market become more accessible to Indian products, as the MEA stated at the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) conference.
While India has been a reliable partner for Russia, particularly in terms of energy and raw materials, there is significant potential to diversify trade into other sectors such as pharmaceuticals and agriculture, Jaishankar stressed.
"We are buying so many things from Russia, it's not only oil, but also other natural resources: coking coal, fertilisers in large amounts," Jaishankar said. "And we’ve been good long-term customers. You have to look after your customers as well. We also need better access to Russian economy."
He further pointed out that many consumer industries in Russia would have a natural interest in Indian supplies, and it is critical to overcome existing barriers such as tariffs and Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) restrictions to foster better trade relations.
The MEA identified Russia,as natural resource partner for India in the years to come along with Indonesia, Brazil and others.
India needs technology, along with access to natural resources on a long-term, sustainable basis, Jaishankar remarked, underlining the importance of this partnership as India seeks to sustain its economic growth trajectory.
He also reiterated Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of transforming India into a global manufacturing hub and stressed the importance of adopting modern technological advancements, particularly in areas such as artificial intelligence and drones.
"Today, it is absolutely one of the top priorities of the PM Modi government to push manufacturing in this country. We must create more manufacturing zones, improve logistics, and make ourselves more competitive," the Minister underscored, acknowledging that while progress has been made, there are still opportunities ahead.
The top diplomat also noted the significant supply chain shifts occurring in the world and stressed that India must position itself to capitalise on these changes.