Diplomatist Magazine Diplomatist October 2019 | Page 31

this upcoming market. For India, there is immense
potential for mid-sized and small businesses who
should be assisted to overcome language and
cultural barriers so that they successfully adopt
local business practices.
Vladivostok, where the Soviet Navy’s Pacifi c
Fleet was based has a special place in India-
Soviet relations as this fl eet was ready to take on
any American misadventure against India during
the India-Pakistan war in 1971. After collapse
of Soviet Union, India became the fi rst country
to have a resident Consulate in Vladivostok in
1992. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to
Vladivostok, fi rst by an Indian PM, as the chief
guest of Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) was not
an event in isolation. New Delhi and Moscow
have been drawing up the plan to cooperate in Far
East since last few years. Russia-India business
dialogue was included in the business program of
EEF in 2017. India’s former Minister of External
Aff airs, Sushma Swaraj visited the third EEF in
2017 leading a delegation which was the biggest in
this forum’s history. In 2018, India was one of the
18 countries for which Russia simplifi ed electronic
visas to encourage tourism in its Far East District.
This district is Russia’s opening to countries in
Asia-Pacifi c and India has expanded the scope
of its Act East policy to include Russia under its
Act Far East policy, as announced by PM Modi in
Vladivostok. India will also provide an annual grant
of $ 10,000 to fund the study of Indology at the
Centre of Regional and International Studies at Far
East Federal University. PM Modi has also given
due importance to ‘paradiplomacy’ where Indian
states are being encouraged to develop relations
with foreign countries. Indian states like Uttar
Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Haryana and Goa
would be collaborating with Russian provinces to
increase trade and investments. A meeting between
the heads of the regions of Russia and various
Chief Ministers from Indian states may soon take
place and this should become a regular feature for
a lasting relationship.
There is another possibility that INSTC could
help in connecting Far East to the Indian Ocean.
INSTC passes through Aktau on Kazakh side of
the Caspian Sea. One branch of the Trans-Siberian
railway from Omsk oblast could be connected to
Aktau in Kazakhstan. Such a possibility is not
diffi cult as Aktau is already well connected by
road and rail network. Hence, INSTC would give
Far East an outlet in southern direction. The Indian
labour is known to be effi cient and hence can play a
role in the development of the region. Even Indian
professionals like doctors, engineers and teachers
too could go and help in the development of Russia’s
Far East. Presence of Indian manpower will also
help in balancing Russian concerns over Chinese
migration into the region. India, one of the largest
importers of timber can also import timber from Far
East as the region has abundant timber resources.
Fresh water is available in abundance in Far East
and India may import it to tide over its scarcity of
water. Japan and South Korea have been investing
in the region and New Delhi may explore areas of
cooperation with both for joint collaboration. India,
Japan and Russia should do some brainstorming
over how to extend the Asia Africa Growth Corridor
(AAGC) to the Far East.
In the cultural aspects, India and Russia need
to further strengthen their links by student and
youth exchanges, university, think tank and media
collaboration and fi lm and cultural festivals. India-
Russia should have an institutionalized Track II
dialogue which would not only give momentum to
their ties but would also help to dispel the notion
that India-Russia relations are mainly conducted
at the government to government level. Both
countries would also do well to encourage the role
of the private sector and enhance banking links. In
times, where Trump is interested in deglobalization
while China is promoting globalization 2.0 with
Chinese characteristics, it makes sense for India and
Russia to increase trade in order to hedge against
disruptive forces and make their ties sustainable
in the long run. 
*Author holds a PhD degree from School of
International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University,
New Delhi. Currently, he is a Consultant at Faculty
of Political Science, Indira Gandhi National Open
University, New Delhi.
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Diplomatist • Vol 7 • Issue 10 • October 2019, Noida • 31