New Delhi meeting explores new projects involving Vande Bharat trains, Russian aircraft, UAVs and mineral technologies
India and Russia have agreed to expand cooperation across a range of strategic industrial sectors, including railways, aerospace, critical minerals, fertilisers and advanced manufacturing, during the 12th session of their Working Group on Modernisation and Industrial Cooperation.
The meeting was held on August 7 at Vanijya Bhawan in New Delhi under the India-Russia Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological and Cultural Cooperation. It was co-chaired by Amardeep Singh Bhatia, Secretary of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), and Alexey Gruzdev, Russia’s Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade.
The two sides reviewed progress since the previous session and discussed cooperation through working groups covering modernisation, mining, fertilisers and railway transport.
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Railway cooperation emerged as a key area, with discussions covering infrastructure, signalling systems and the Vande Bharat train project
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The countries also examined opportunities in aerospace, including unmanned aerial vehicles, three-dimensional printing, Russian SJ-100 regional aircraft and aero-engine technologies
Other areas on the agenda included carbon-fibre technology, propulsion systems, automation and advanced industrial manufacturing. India and Russia also discussed supplies of DAP and NPK fertilisers, as well as cooperation in lithium mining, titanium technologies and exploration of rare earth elements.
Critical minerals and resource security featured prominently, alongside possible collaboration in mining equipment, aluminium production and industrial infrastructure. The two sides also considered capacity building and technology development in rare earths and other strategic resources.
The meeting concluded with the signing of the protocol for the 12th session by the two co-chairs. Around 60 delegates from India and Russia took part, with the discussions aimed at broadening industrial and economic cooperation between the two countries.
