On Peace and Labor Day, May 1, 2024, at the Department of Economics and Commerce of the Embassy of the Republic of India in the Russian Federation, a meeting was held on the topic of holding the Russian-Indian Trade Festival “In Memory of Afanasy Nikitin” in the regions of Russia in 2024 as part of the second, Russian stage of the international and interregional socio-cultural Program “BRICS Peoples Choose Life” (hereinafter referred to as the Organization) under the motto “From the ecology of soul and body to the ecology of the world” (hereinafter referred to as the Program).
The Russian program received a good farewell from the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, Russia’s Sherpa in the BRICS, Sergei Ryabkov, according to whom, “programs such as 'The BRICS People Choose Life' are in demand now more than ever... This is living creativity, covering all areas of cooperation from trade and economics to science, education, to the value element.”
The organizer of the business events was the Regional Public Organization “BRICS World of Traditions” and Smart World Services LLC with the support of the leadership of the relevant ministries of the participating regions: Tver, Moscow and Samara regions and Altai Territory. A representative of the Times of India, Mr. Dattan Nair, became a member of the organizing group for conducting the business stage of the Russian program.
The program successfully launched in India in December 2022 with the participation of more than 2,000 Indian students and business representatives.
According to the Deputy Director of the Department of Asian, African and Latin American Countries of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation, Oleg Gorlov, who spoke at MGIMO University of the Russian Foreign Ministry at the summing up of the Indian stage: “The synergy of political, socio-cultural and business aspects of cooperation makes our relationships with foreign partners stronger and more multifaceted.”
Assessing the role of the business direction of the Program, Trade Representative of Russia in India Alexander Rybas also emphasized that “numerous events of the Indian stage evoked a wide response among Indian public, educational and business circles. The resulting synergy between the humanitarian and business tracks has yielded positive results.”
The program in Russia, implemented in the format of an interregional relay race of cultural, educational and business projects, received support from the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Rossotrudnichestvo, the Russian Ministry of Education, the Russian Ministry of Education, the Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Russian Embassy in India, the Indian Embassy in Russia, Trade Representation of Russia in India and the governments of the participating regions.
The representative of the Indian Embassy in Russia at the meeting was the Deputy Head of the Economics and Commerce Department, Mr. Rajneesh Patidar. The President of the ROO “BRICS” took part in the negotiations. World of Traditions”, head of the “BRICS Peoples Choose Life” Program Lyudmila Sekacheva, coordinator for international activities of the Organization Dmitry Kurbatov and General Partner of the business track of the Russian stage of the Program, founder of Smart World Services LLC, Chairman of the IYES Foundation Akil Mohammad.
The main topic of the meeting was the Embassy’s assistance to the extensive program of the Trade Festival, during which business missions and B2B negotiations will be held in a hybrid format with the participation of Russian and Indian business companies of large and medium-sized businesses interested in developing mutually beneficial trade cooperation with Russia, as well Trade fairs will be held with the participation of Indian sellers of tea, cosmetics, clothing, jewellery and other traditional Indian goods.
During the negotiations, Mr. Rajnish Patidar emphasized the interest of the Indian side in increasing trade turnover with Russia, which “will undoubtedly be facilitated by the holding of business events of the Russian stage of the “BRICS Peoples Choose Life” program, which becomes especially relevant in the year of the Russian Federation’s chairmanship in the association."
The Embassy representative also assured of his readiness to assist in the selection of Indian companies (for business missions and trade fairs) based on the list of industry areas and categories of goods provided by the participating regions for which there is an interest in trade with India.
Mr. Rajneesh highly appreciated the detailed elaboration of the Program, its relevance, social and practical significance, and also noted with satisfaction the significant role of youth in the implementation of the Program’s projects.
Currently, the Trade Representation of Russia in India is actively inviting Indian companies of medium and large businesses to participate in the business track of the Russian program 2024.
This difficult and lengthy work is carried out under the leadership and personal participation of the Deputy Trade Representative of Russia in India, Evgeniy Griva, who has extensive knowledge in the field of international trade and extensive experience in interacting with Indian business structures.
Representatives of the leadership of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Russia, the Trade Mission of Russia in India, the Embassy of India in Russia, and relevant ministries of the regions participating in the program “BRICS People Choose Life” were invited as Guests of Honor to participate in the regional business events of the Trade Festival “In Memory of Afanasy Nikitin” (in a hybrid format)."
The team of organizers of the Trade Festival includes successful young Indian businessmen interested in developing their business in Russia, which instils confidence in the positive outcome of the business track of the Russian stage of the program.