Lok Sabha Question No. 1940 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-08-02
Subject: Agreements with Russia
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Shri Dhairyasheel Sambhajirao Mane, Shri Sudheer Gupta, Shri Chavan Vasantrao Balwantrao

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-1940

ANSWERED ON- 02/08/2024

AGREEMENTS WITH RUSSIA

## 1940. SHRI SUDHEER GUPTA

SHRI DHAIRYASHEEL SAMBHAJIRAO MANE

SHRI CHAVAN VASANTRAO BALWANTRAO

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state :-

(a) whether Prime Minister recently visited Russia and if so, the details thereof;

(b) the details of discussions held and agreements signed with Russia during the said visit;

(c) whether the Government proposes to open two new consulates in the Russia and if so, the details thereof;

(d)   whether   the   Government   has   raised   the   issue   of   repatriation   of Indians forcefully recruited in the Russian army to fight against Ukraine and if so, the details thereof and response of Russian Government in this regard;

(e) whether the Government has signed any deal with Russia for a new air defence system, purchase of Sukoi 30MKI and licensed production of KA-226 Helicopters and if so, the details thereof; and

(f)   the   details   of   other   agreement   signed   in   the   field   of   trade   and commerce?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

(a & b) Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi visited Russia on 08-09 July 2024   for   the   22 nd India-Russia   Annual   Summit.   The   two   Leaders discussed bilateral cooperation in political, trade, investment, energy, connectivity, science & technology, defence, and security spheres as well   as   regional   and   global   issues   of   mutual   interest   including engagement in the UN and multilateral groupings such as the G20, BRICS, SCO etc.

In   addition   to   the   Joint   Statement   of   the   22 nd India-Russia   Annual Summit   and   the   Leaders'   Joint   Statement   on   the   development   of Strategic Areas of India-Russia Economic Cooperation for the period up to 2030, nine other documents were concluded in connection with Prime Minister's visit. A list of these documents is enclosed at Annexure-I.

(c)   Yes.   The   Government   of   India   has   decided   to   open   two   more Consulates General of India in the cities of Yekaterinburg and Kazan in Russia. (d) The early discharge of Indian nationals in the Russian armed forces was taken up strongly by the Government with relevant authorities of the Russian Federation at various levels. During his recent visit to Russia in July 2024, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi strongly reiterated the urgent need for early release of all Indian nationals from the Russian armed forces. The Russian side's response has been positive. (e)   India   and   Russia   did   not   conclude   any   deal   on   defence   systems during Prime Minister's visit to Russia in July 2024. (f) Five documents concluded in connection with Prime Minister's visit to Russia in July 2024 are related to trade and commerce. Their details are in the list at Annexure I.

## ANNEXURE-I

## List   of   concluded   documents:   Official   Visit   of   Prime   Minister   Shri Narendra Modi to Russia (08-09 July 2024)

|   Sl. No. | Name of MoU/ Agreement/Programme                                                                                                                                                                                         | Objectives                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |
|-----------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|         1 | Program of India-Russia cooperation in trade, economic and investment spheres in the Russian Far East for the period from 2024 to 2029 as well as of cooperation principles in the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation | To facilitate further increase in trade and joint investment projects between the Far East Region of Russia and India.                                                                                                                    |
|         2 | MoU between Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change of the Republic of India and Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation on the issues of Climate change and low- carbon development       | Establishment of Joint Working Group on the issues of climate change and low-carbon development. Exchange of information / best practices and co-hosting research to develop low-cost technologies.                                       |
|         3 | MoU between Survey of India and the Federal Service for State Registration, Cadastre and Cartography, Russian Federation                                                                                                 | Exchange of knowledge and experience in geodesy, cartography and spatial data infrastructure; professional training and capacity building; cooperation between scientific and educational institutes.                                     |
|         4 | MoU between National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research, Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India and the Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute on Cooperation in Research                                     | Cooperation in the study of polar environments and their variability by sharing resources and data; logistics in polar regions; joint research; exchanges of personnel; and participation in international programmes and projects in the |

|    | and Logistics in polar regions                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      | polar region.                                                                                                                          |
|----|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|  5 | MoU on Cooperation and Collaboration on broadcasting between Prasar Bharati, India, and ANO "TV-Novosti' (Russia Today TV Channel), Russia                                                                                                                                          | Cooperation in the field of broadcasting, including exchange of programmes, personnel, and training.                                   |
|  6 | MoU between Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of the Republic of India and Federal State Budgetary Institution "Scientific Centre for Expert Evaluation of Medicinal Products' of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation | To ensure availability of high quality medicines for human use through exchange of information and capacity building.                  |
|  7 | Cooperation Agreement between the Indian International Arbitration Centre and International Commercial Arbitration Court at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation                                                                                          | Facilitation of settlement of civil law disputes of commercial nature.                                                                 |
|  8 | Joint Investment Promotion Framework Agreement between Invest India and JSC "Management Company of Russian Direct Investment Fund'                                                                                                                                                  | Facilitation of investment by Russian companies in the Indian market by promoting and fostering investment cooperation.                |
|  9 | MoU between Trade Promotion Council of India and All Russia Public Organization "Business Russia'                                                                                                                                                                                   | Promotion of bilateral trade and investment, organizing B2B meetings; business promotion events, and exchange of business delegations. |

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