The Russian envoy has held talks with the chief of Gujarat, which contains India’s largest refineries and an upcoming financial hub

Russian Ambassador to India Denis Alipov discussed strengthening cooperation with India’s western state of Gujarat. According to the Russian embassy in New Delhi, during Alipov’s visit to the state capital, Gandhinagar, on Monday he held talks with the state’s chief minister Bhupendra Patel.

The parties explored the potential for expanding ties in key areas, such as trade, industrial production, infrastructure, and education.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Patel noted that Gujarat plays an important role in the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) project, given the state’s 1600-kilometer-long coastline and maritime transportation capacity. INSTC is an upcoming transportation route that India and Russia are developing, along with Iran and other countries in Central Asia, to enable faster movement of goods and cargo. 

Patel highlighted Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 2003 visit to Astrakhan, a southern port city in Russia, which initiated some strategic partnerships. Astrakhan – which is located at the intersection of Iran, Russia, and Central Asia – holds the key to the smooth functioning of the INSTC corridor and is considered a historical gateway for Indian goods to Russia and Central Asia.

The discussion focused on ways to expand

Source: RT - Daily news