“Strengthening ties with India is of strategic importance for Sverdlovsk enterprises,” said Governor Yevgeny Kuyvashev, who headed the region’s delegation during a visit to India on March 10-14.
“We are already working on the implementation of joint projects, and have proposed a series of new ones to our Indian partners. We are mainly focusing on ensuring growth in the production of high-tech and innovative products, which has evoked great interest on both sides. On the whole, we will continue to expand our cooperation over a wide spectrum, including in the energy sector, mechanical engineering, medical and health, culture, tourism, education and science,” said the governor.
The delegation included heads of leading industrial enterprises of the region, including Uralmash PJSC, Uralkhimmash JSC, Sinara-Transport Machines JSC, GRS Ural JSC, V.V. Vorovskogo Plant LLC, as well as leaders of the Ural Chamber of Commerce, and representatives of the largest institutions of higher education.
During the visit, talks were held with the heads of ministries of trade and industry, railways, development of human resources and culture, as well as the Department of Science and Technology of India.
Industrial and investment potential of the Sverdlovsk Oblast was presented to the Indian business community during two business forums organized under the auspices of two influential business associations – the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).
During the meeting between delegation members from the Russian region and the Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry of India Ramesh Abhishek, discussed in particular were the prospects of Sverdlovsk enterprises participating in development of the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor, the possibility of localization of production in India, within the a large-scale government program “Make in India”.
Uralmash, Uralkhimmash, Sinara-Transport Machines, and other enterprises presented their proposals to the Indian side.
Participation of experts from the Urals mining industry in the development of fields in the state of Maharashtra were discussed during the meeting between Mr. Kuyvashev and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis)
“Sverdlovsk Oblast and the state of Maharashtra are very similar... These are large industrial regions with a diversified complex that play essential roles in the economies of their respective countries,” said the Governor of Sverdlovsk.
Mr. Kuyvashev also said that his oblast has many things to offer to partners from India.
“In addition to traditional industries, actively developing in our region are the aviation sector, manufacturing of electronic and optical equipment, pharmaceutical products, and medical supplies. As well as in the IT-sphere, the services sector, transport and logistics,” said Mr. Kuyvashev.
Lengthier negotiations will take place in the summer of 2016, during the major Russian industrial exhibition INNOPROM, of which India is acting as a co-organizer. The governor of the Sverdlovsk Oblast and the Maharashtra Chief Minister have agreed to meet on the sidelines of the exhibition and sign a cooperation agreement.
The governor personally handed the invitation to Indian Minister of Trade and Industry Nirmala Sitharaman, who will be leading the Indian delegation at this grand exhibition. “There is no doubt that the INNOPROM-2016 will serve as a new impetus to the development of our mutually beneficial relations with our great friend India,” Mr. Kuyvashev said with confidence.
During the visit, there was also a meeting held between the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Governor Kuyvashev.
All rights reserved by Rossiyskaya Gazeta.