Meeting of Minister of the Government of Moscow Sergey Cheremin with Rotary Club of Delhi South Delegation: Prospects for Russian‑Indian Cooperation

On May 6, 2026, a meeting took place at the Moscow City Situational Center between Sergey Cheremin, Minister of the Government of Moscow and Head of the Department for External Economic and International Relations, and a delegation from the Rotary Club of Delhi South, led by Anil Kumar Agarwal.

The Rotary Club of Delhi South, founded in 1969, is one of the most respected non‑profit charitable organizations in New Delhi. The club’s activities focus on socially significant initiatives in healthcare, education, vocational training, and support for vulnerable groups.

The Indian delegation included Sauni Lalit Kumar, Agarwal Pramit, Kapur Vanita, and Agarwal Pramod – representatives of Indian business and professional circles.

The meeting discussed prospects for developing trade and economic cooperation between Moscow and India, ways to address the trade imbalance, as well as collaboration in digitalization and the implementation of smart city projects.

In his speech, Sergey Cheremin detailed the current state and prospects of Russian‑Indian interaction. The minister emphasized the strategic nature of the partnership and the importance of strengthening it: “It is a great honor for us to host members of the Rotary Club. We support partnership with India because it is our strategic partner.”

He noted that, in the current international environment, the development of direct ties between regions and business circles is particularly significant: “Today, in challenging times, we have the opportunity to strengthen cooperation between governments, regions, and businesses.”

Cheremin highlighted the intensification of bilateral contacts in recent years, including high‑level visits and business events. He noted the successful organization of a business forum in New Delhi, as well as Moscow’s participation in specialized international exhibitions such as Smart City Expo, where the capital presented its solutions in digitalization and urban infrastructure development.

The minister emphasized the importance of interregional cooperation, noting the development of partnerships with several Indian territories: “We have signed important cooperation agreements with the authorities of Mumbai and the state of Maharashtra, and we are also developing dialogue with other regions of India.” Interaction is also ongoing with the leadership of Uttar Pradesh and other Indian states across a wide range of areas.

Special attention was paid to economic aspects. Cheremin noted that Moscow plays a key role in foreign economic ties with India, accounting for about half of the total trade turnover between the two countries, which stands at approximately $35 billion. At the same time, India occupies a leading position among Moscow’s trading partners.

At the same time, the minister pointed to the need to improve the quality of bilateral trade and find a balance: “Today, trade volumes have reached significant levels, but there is a serious imbalance, and finding ways to overcome it is an extremely important task.”

Priority areas for cooperation include energy, industry, infrastructure projects, and investment. It was noted that Russian companies have invested substantial funds in the Indian economy in recent years, including the oil and gas sector and refining.

Sergey Cheremin also stressed the important role of humanitarian and cultural ties. Moscow regularly hosts events aimed at developing intercultural dialogue, including large‑scale Indian culture festivals that attract hundreds of thousands and even millions of visitors, demonstrating the high interest in Indian culture in the Russian capital.

The presentation also provided information on Moscow’s integrated development, including the modernization of urban infrastructure, economic diversification, and the introduction of digital technologies in various areas of urban management – all of which open additional opportunities for experience exchange and joint projects with Indian partners.

The meeting was conducted in a constructive and businesslike atmosphere, confirming both sides’ mutual interest in further strengthening Russian‑Indian cooperation and developing joint initiatives in the economic, technological, and humanitarian fields.