Chief Ministers of five Indian states likely to visit the region ahead of Modi's trip to explore opportunities amid Moscow limiting scope of Chinese investments in Far East Russia

Russians are increasingly apprehensive of encroachment from contiguous China into Far East Russia.

Russia is wooing Indian investments in its Far East ahead of PM Narendra Modi's September 4-6 Vladivostok visit for Eastern Economic Forum and 20th edition of the annual summit to balance China's expanding presence in the resource rich region.

Chief Ministers of five Indian likely to visit the region ahead of Modi's trip to explore opportunities amid Moscow limiting scope of Chinese investments in Far East Russia.

Russian Deputy PM Yury Trutnev who visited Delhi following Modi's re-election has recently announced that 80 per cent workforce in Chinese projects in Far East Russia must be locals and there will be no permanent land transfer to Chinese investors. He is of opinion that if any China is setting up any enterprise in Far East Russia it has to employ 80 per cent Russians and remaining 20 per cent should be Chinese.

Russians are increasingly apprehensive of encroachment from contiguous China into Far East Russia which is resource rich but sparsely populated, claimed persons familiar with the dynamics of Sino-Russian ties. President Vladimir Putin, is keen to expedite development and economic projects in Far East Russia and the region serves as Moscow’s outreach to the Indo-Pacific region.

Modi’s visit to Vladivostok and presence as the Chief Guest at the Forum is taking in this context and would create foundation for concrete Indo-Russian partnership in the Indo-Pacific region, noted persons familiar with bilateral ties.

Russia would like to balance presence of Chinese in its Far East through not only Indian investments but also presence of Indian nationals on the ground as Indians have reputation of benign besides enjoying goodwill among Russians since the days of Soviet Union, ET has learnt.

India and Russia for the first time ever could sign a pact for Indian workforce in Russia including in the Far Eastern region during Modi’s Sep visit. Besides India is looking to source fresh water which is abundance in Far East Russia to address the issue of water scarcity, ET has reliably learnt. Far East Russia will also serve as India’s gateway to resource rich Arctic where Russia has several ports.

The two sides are also exploring bilateral cooperation in the sectors of Diamond-processing, Petroleum and Natural Gas, Coal and mining, Agro-processing and Tourism which have been identified as the priority areas for development in the Russian Far East.

"Indian farmers should be encouraged to do farming in Russia's Far East. Also, there is scope for expanding Indo-Russia cooperation in that region in oil and gas exploration, ship building. The revival of Chennai-Vladivostok shipping lane can open-up further areas of cooperation and provide much needed balance to peace and stability in South China Sea," noted Bipul Chatterjee, Executive Director, CUTS, leading public policy body that deals with trade and connectivity issues.