India and Russia
Joint Maritime Commission is expected to meet soon to give a big push to
Maritime connectivity in the Indo-Pacific Region through the
Chennai-Vladivostok shipping link, strengthen joint shipbuilding project and
cooperate in the inland waterways sector. The commission, which will feed into
bilateral projects in the Russian Far East, plans to meet in the near future
according to media reports.
The issue was
discussed at a virtual meeting between external affairs minister S Jaishankar
and Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov during their joint commission
earlier this week.
The
Chennai-Vladivostok maritime route has been revived and contributed to the
growth in bilateral trade last year as part of PM Narendra Modi’s Act Far East
Policy.
In 2021,
Mazagaon Dock Ltd and Zvezda Shipyard of Russia signed an agreement for
commercial shipping and building ships.
India had also
sought partnership with Russia to improve navigation in India’s inland
waterways, according to people aware of the matter. Last year Russia released its new maritime doctrine, which put India
at the centre stage of its Indian Ocean Region strategy which involves
jointly exploring offshore hydrocarbons and laying underwater.