December 17, 2007

Russia aims to boost grain exports to India

Russia is set to boost its grain exports to India, Russia's agriculture minster Alexei Gordeyev has told Indian ambassador to Russia Prabhat Shukla.

"We have an object of strategic partnership with a lot of potential," Gordeyev's press office quoted him as saying to Prabhat Shukla.

Gorgeyev said that Russian-Indian cooperation in wheat production should be developed on a long-term basis.

Russia is interested in professional interaction, and is ready to start consultation on related issues at the level of ministries, experts and the business community, according to Gordeyev.

He also hinted that Russia could set special conditions for private enterprises and set reference points on how much grain to export to India, he said.

The minister added that cereals for export to India could be grown in Siberia.

A Russian agricultural delegation is set to visit India in Feb 2008 for a bilateral business forum, he added.