Russia keen to forge business ties with India's northeast

Thursday, 19 April 2007, 19:30 IST
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Agartala: Russia has evinced interest to forge economic ties with India's northeast and also help the region tap its rich natural resources. "My country is eager to have economic ties with the northeastern states and also willing to utilise the gas, rubber, and forest goods available here (the region) by setting up projects," Russian Ambassador to India Vyacheslav I. Trubnikov said here Thursday. The Russian envoy is in Tripura as part of his familiarisation visit to the northeast. "In view of our past relations and renewed attempt by New Delhi and Moscow to further strengthen the economic, political and technical cooperation, we should try to know and understand each other more closely," Trubnikov told journalists. He said his visit to the northeast was to study business potentials in the region, although he expressed concern at the recent clashes in West Bengal over setting up special economic zones using farmland. "We are concerned over the recent development in West Bengal's Singur and Nandigram although these are India's internal problems," he said. Trubnikov had held meetings with Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar and Governor Dinesh Nandan Sahaya. "There should not be any confrontation in regard to investment and economic development," the Russian envoy said. "Confrontation and opposition always disturb the readiness of investment and participation. We want a friendly atmosphere," Trubnikov said, adding that he would encourage Russian industrialists and investors to invest in the northeast and extend economic cooperation. Referring to the India-China-Russian triangular cooperation, he said: "For mutual benefit we should come closer, work with mutual understanding and further increase economic and other ties." "New Delhi and Moscow jointly could tackle terrorism, which is a major menace of the 21st century," the diplomat told a questioner referring to 60 years of Indo-Russian diplomatic relations.
Source: IANS