India and Russia Deepen Industrial Ties at 11th Modernization Working Group Meet

The meeting took place under the aegis of the India-Russia Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological, and Cultural Cooperation (IRIGC-TEC), a longstanding mechanism facilitating multifaceted dialogue between the two nations.

In a significant step toward reinforcing the strategic bilateral relationship between India and Russia, the 11th Session of the India-Russia Working Group on Modernization and Industrial Cooperation convened today at Vanijya Bhawan, New Delhi. The meeting took place under the aegis of the India-Russia Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological, and Cultural Cooperation (IRIGC-TEC), a longstanding mechanism facilitating multifaceted dialogue between the two nations.

High-Level Participation and Bilateral Commitment

The session was co-chaired by Shri Amardeep Singh Bhatia, Secretary, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, and H.E. Mr. Alexey Gruzdev, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation. It was attended by nearly 80 delegates, encompassing senior government officials, domain experts, and industry representatives from both sides.

This session marked a follow-up to the 10th edition and evaluated the progress of earlier commitments while establishing new cooperation tracks across strategic industrial sectors. Both sides reaffirmed their intention to build on their historically strong ties and to jointly promote cutting-edge industrial modernization efforts.

Comprehensive Sectoral Engagement

The meeting featured reviews of existing sub-group engagements in the areas of modernization, mining, fertilizers, and railway transport. The agenda was ambitious and forward-looking, encompassing both legacy industries and emerging technologies.

Key highlights of the discussions included:

• Aerospace Science and Technology: India and Russia identified critical projects in aerospace R&D, such as the establishment of a modernized wind tunnel testing facility, which will significantly boost aerodynamics research and support indigenous aircraft development. Collaborative manufacturing of small aircraft piston engines also featured prominently.

• Advanced Manufacturing: Cutting-edge technologies like additive manufacturing and 3D printing were focal points. The two countries also expressed strong interest in co-developing carbon fibre technologies—a material crucial to aerospace, defense, and automotive sectors.

• Critical and Rare Earth Minerals: With growing global interest in securing rare earth resources, the delegations explored avenues for joint ventures in mineral exploration and extraction, particularly targeting rare earth elements and critical raw materials essential for clean energy and electronics industries.

• Underground Coal Gasification and Industrial Infrastructure: The session examined the feasibility of environmentally sustainable coal gasification technologies and discussed opportunities for establishing state-of-the-art industrial parks equipped with modern facilities to host joint ventures and tech transfer units.

Enhanced Cooperation in Traditional Sectors

The Working Group reaffirmed the importance of continued engagement in traditional areas of cooperation. These included:

• Fertilizers: With Russia being a key supplier of fertilizers to India, both sides looked at long-term supply chain resilience, including exploring joint production opportunities in India.

• Aluminium and Railway Transport: Deeper engagement in the aluminium value chain and technical cooperation in railway engineering and logistics were encouraged. Russian expertise in railway electrification and heavy-haul technology could complement Indian expansion goals.

• Mining Sector: The dialogue emphasized knowledge exchange, capacity building, and technology transfers in mining equipment, mineral exploration, and safe mining practices. Sustainable industrial and domestic waste management in mining operations was also addressed.

Protocol Signing and Strategic Continuity

The session concluded with the formal signing of the Protocol of the 11th Session, which codified the discussions and collaborative intentions of both sides. This signing reaffirmed the countries' shared strategic vision for a modern industrial partnership built on mutual benefit, sustainability, and technological innovation.

Looking Ahead

This meeting underscores the enduring resilience of the India-Russia partnership, even amid shifting global dynamics. It also highlights India’s strategic approach of engaging multiple partners to accelerate its industrial modernization, while Russia continues to seek reliable economic partners amid global realignments.

As both nations look to navigate the 21st-century industrial landscape, this session has laid a solid foundation for technology-intensive cooperation that supports Make in India, import substitution, and sustainable industrial development goals.