During his working visit to the Kola Arctic, Consul General of India in St. Petersburg Kumar Gaurav met with Deputy Governor of the Murmansk Region Olga Vovk. 

“Today we would like to discuss the main areas of cooperation between our region and India in various fields. At the regional level, cooperation in such areas as science, technology and innovation, pharmaceuticals and nuclear energy, and mining has great potential. We thank you in advance for your interaction and further joint work,” Deputy Governor of the Murmansk Region Olga Vovk noted in her welcoming speech.

Kumar Gaurav noted that today was his first visit to the city of Murmansk.

“I have several things that I want to say first of all. I would like to convey my wishes for a speedy recovery to Andrei Vladimirovich. I wish him good health and all the best. Sincerely and with all my heart,” the Consul General said. 

He noted that this meeting once again underlines the importance and significance of relations between India and Russia.

“The relations between India and Russia are at an unusually high level, and our strategic privileged partnership is a unique experience for both countries. No other country in the world can boast of such a partnership with India. And this visit only strengthens our bilateral relations. I will be very glad to hear your ideas, your vision for the development of these relations and prospects for work in the future. The Murmansk region is a key region for the development of our relations in the strategic Arctic regions. And I will be happy to convey your wishes and ideas to the new Ambassador of India,” Kumar Gaurav noted. 

He also noted that the economic development of our countries has reached unprecedented heights in recent years. Thus, in 2024, the trade balance exceeded 50 billion dollars, although it was planned to reach the threshold of 35 billion only in 2025. 

During the meeting, Vice Governor Olga Vovk presented the Kola Arctic to the guests, telling them about the main areas of development of the region as a key participant in the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation. 

“The region occupies a strategic position on the map of Russia. It is completely part of the Arctic Zone of the Russian Federation and is entirely subject to Arctic preferences, and is part of the free economic zone. Direct access to the World Ocean and the Northern Sea Route without passing through international straits opens up unique opportunities for the development of logistics. The Murmansk Region is an accessible Arctic. The city of Murmansk is the largest in the world beyond the Arctic Circle, the capital of the Arctic,” Olga Vovk noted.

Then the meeting participants discussed promising areas, including the potential for twinning within the framework of expanding the geography of inter-municipal relations in order to develop humanitarian and cultural ties, interaction in the field of culture, education, tourism, youth policy and sports.

/ Ministry of Information Policy of the Murmansk Region /