📷 Image Credits: Moneycontrol
India and Russia have ramped up discussions to operationalize and enhance the Chennai-Vladivostok maritime route ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s upcoming visit to Russia on July 8 and 9, as reported by Moneycontrol. Following the Lok Sabha elections, both governments are making efforts to expedite the development of the Chennai-Vladivostok route. A senior government official mentioned that efforts have been made to engage with various trading associations and shipping lines to initiate transportation through the Eastern Maritime Corridor (EMC).
Union Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal is set to travel to Russia in September to participate in the Eastern Economic Forum. In preparation for this, a delegation of Russian businessmen and government officials is expected to visit Mumbai in August. While it remains unclear if the Chennai-Vladivostok Maritime route will be on Modi’s agenda during his visit, both countries are expected to discuss the enhancement of bilateral relations along with relevant international and regional matters.
In a bid to finalize trade agreements, notable Russian figures including Adviser to the President of the Russian Federation Anton Kobyakov, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, and other officials are scheduled to visit Mumbai in August. The Indian shipping ministry is actively engaging with international shipping lines to establish a dedicated service between Chennai and the Free Port of Vladivostok.
The discussions stem from previous engagements, including the India-Russia workshop inaugurated by Sonowal in Chennai in January 2024. The EMC is set to not only connect Vladivostok and Chennai but also integrate other east coast ports of India with Russia’s far east ports. The trade between India and Russia has seen substantial growth, reaching $44.4 billion in 2023-24 from $10 billion in FY21-22.
With plans to double trade volume through the port of Vladivostok, Russia aims to develop the Arctic and the North Sea Route as a comprehensive transport and logistics pathway. The Chennai-Vladivostok route, spanning over 5,600 nautical miles, is expected to significantly reduce transportation time from India to Russia’s far east, benefiting both nations economically.
Moreover, the corridor is anticipated to not only enhance trade relations between India and Russia through northeast Asia but also raise concerns for China in the South China Sea, impacting its aspirations with the Maritime Silk Route according to the Institute for Security and Development Policy. The strategic alignment between NITI Aayog and the Ministry for the Development of the Russian Far East and Arctic, as per a memorandum of understanding signed in September 2019, further strengthens the partnership between India and Russia in developing the region.
