Moscow and New Delhi are also discussing the possibility of launching a trans-Arctic container shipping line and processing facilities along the Northern Sea Route (NSR), according to the Russian minister for the development of the Far East and Arctic, Aleksey Chekunkov. Chekunkov discussed this during his working visit here this week, when he met with the country’s Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal.
India has expressed interest in building a satellite city near the strategically located Vladivostok in Russia’s Far East, including ports, roads and energy infrastructure as part of PM Narendra Modi’s Act Far East Policy.
The issue of a satellite city by India in a region where China is threatening to make inroads is being explored, ET has learnt. Russia has been keen on a bigger presence by India in the resource-rich Far East where Beijing is even making territorial claims.
Moscow and New Delhi are also discussing the possibility of launching a trans-Arctic container shipping line and processing facilities along the Northern Sea Route (NSR), according to the Russian minister for the development of the Far East and Arctic, Aleksey Chekunkov.
Chekunkov discussed this during his working visit here this week, when he met with the country’s Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal.
“The ministers discussed an alternative route to transport cargo from India to Europe — not by the southern or western routes, but by the eastern route and the NSR, using both Russian and Indian port facilities… The cost to ship a container from Vladivostok to India is 30% lower than from Moscow,” Russian officials said.
The officials also pointed to fleet expansion as a promising area for cooperation. The next round of maritime cooperation talks will be held in Moscow in April. Modi had earlier stated that New Delhi was planning to assist in developing the NSR and turning it into a global trade route.
The Northern Sea Route, which stretches the entire length of Russia’s Arctic and Far East regions, is expected to become a major trade path for goods shipped between Europe and Asia. According to Russian President Vladimir Putin, the route is “the key to the development of the Russian Arctic regions of the Far East,” and the goal is to make it a “truly global, competitive transport artery.”
The Arctic route, linking Southeast Asia to Europe, can drastically reduce transportation time, compared to traditional routes through the Suez or Panama canals.
