Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov is in India for a two-day visit to attend an inter-governmental meeting on trade, culture, science and technology. Manturov is also Russia’s minister for trade and industry. He will co-chair the inter-governmental Russian-India Commission on trade, economic, scientific, technical and cultural cooperation along with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. They will discuss issues of bilateral trade, economic and humanitarian cooperation. Manturov will also meet business representatives from both countries.
On the second day of his visit, a plenary meeting of the inter-governmental commission (IGC) will be held, following which the co-chairs will sign the final protocol of the meeting. The key item on the agenda of the Manturov-Jaishankar meeting is to explore means to increase Indian exports to Russia. Russia is seeking bigger Indian investments in the far east. The two sides will also focus on payment in national currencies for trade.
Interestingly, Manturov spent his childhood in Mumbai where his father was posted as a diplomat in the Soviet Union Consulate. This visit is significant as this is the first visit of a senior member of Putin cabinet after Ukrainian Deputy foreign Minister Emine Dzhaparova’s visit. Manturov’s visit will be followed by Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shouigu and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov visiting India to participate in ministerial level meetings of SCO. Russia and India both consider their mutual affinity to be a ‘special and privileged strategic partnership.’
