Politics

16:45, 22.05.2008 | Primorye Territory

First Vice-Governor of the region Sergei Sopchuk met with Indian Ambassador.

The first vice-governor of the region Sergei SOPCHUK met with Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of India in the Russian Federation, Mr. Prabhat SHUKLA, informed in the press service of the territorial administration.

This is the first visit of Indian diplomat in our region, although he had already worked in the Soviet Union and Russia with various diplomatic missions - from 1977 to 1980, from 1985 to 1989, from October 2007.

During the talks the issues of socio-economic and investment cooperation expansion were discussed. The sides emphasized that Russia and India maintained trusting partnership for many years. India was among the first countries that opened a Consulate General in Vladivostok.

Primorye Territory is actively cooperating with India in many areas. In 2007, trade turnover of Primorye Territory with India increased by four times or 27.2 million dollars over 2006 and totaled 36.1 million U.S. dollars. Export is presented with vessels, boats, floating structures, electrical machinery and equipment. Main import is tea – about 80%. India also supplies Primorye with foodstuffs, paper, cardboard, textiles, glass and other goods. However, the available capabilities in the field of economics are not used in full strength. The share of India's foreign trade turnover in the region is only 0.6%.

Sergei Sopchuk informed Mr. Shukla Prabhat on prospective projects to be implemented in the Primorye Territory in the near future. As pointed out by first vice-governor of the region, the cooperation between Primorye and India is coming to a new phase, the basis of which is the realization of large mutually beneficial projects. In particular, Primoryei Territory and India have long and stable cooperations in the field of defense industry. The enterprises of military-industrial complex of the region have a number of promising developments that may be of interest to Indian partners. Another promising area for cooperation is the production of pharmaceuticals on the basis of relict plants growing in Primorye.

Mr. Prabhat Shukla expressed interest in developing of business contacts with the Primorye Territory, noted in the press service.