NEW DELHI: Addressing the India-Russia Business Dialogue 2023 organised by Indian Chamber of Commerce and Russia India Business Council in New Delhi, Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Denis Manturov, said that Russia wants to enter into a free trade agreement with India. Manturov said that both the countries are trying to sign bilateral agreement so that investors can be protected. He met External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. Manturov is also the Minister of Industry and Trade of Russia.
The Russian Deputy Prime Minister said that India and Russia are also focusing on increasing air connectivity so that trade and tourist movement between the two countries can be increased. He said that logistics has been affected due to Covid-19 as well as the imposition of sanctions against Russia by Western countries. Restrictions have increased difficulties in international transport, cargo and financial transactions.
Manturov said that India and Russia pay special attention to the issues of mutual access of production to the markets in the two countries. He said that Russia and Eurasian Economic Commission are looking forward to intensifying negotiations on a free trade agreement with India.
External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar expressed hoped that both countries will pick up on the issue as it will make a real difference to the trade relationship between them. He said that the India-Russia partnership is a subject of attention because it has been among the steadiest of the major relationships of the world in the contemporary era.
