On October 8-9, 2025, the first “TIME: Russia – India. Mutual Efficiency” Business Forum was held at the IT Park named after Bashir Rameev in Kazan aiming to become a key platform for interregional and business cooperation, working to increase trade between the two countries.
Around 3,500 people from 35 regions of Russia and 22 administrative divisions of India, as well as 206 media representatives, registered for the Forum.
The Forum gathered distinguished guests from Russia such as Sergey Cheremin, Minister of the Government of Moscow, Head of the Department for External Economic and International Relations of Moscow, Chairman of the Board, Business Council for Cooperation with India; Dmitry Razumovsky, Deputy Governor of the Kaluga Region, Head of the Ministry of Digital Development; and Vladimir Potemkin, Deputy Governor of the Kaluga Region, Head of the Representative Office of the Government of the Kaluga Region to the Government of the Russian Federation.
“Tatarstan attaches great importance on developing cooperation with India within the framework of relations between the two countries. The governments and business communities of our countries are actively working to expand interaction in various areas. We are ready to participate in these processes at the regional level. Our Republic has experience working with Indian partners. Delegations from your country, officials, and business partners visit Tatarstan. Representatives of our Republic are also frequent guests in India, we get to know each other and learn the best practices,” said Rustam Minnikhanov, Rais (Head) of the Republic of Tatarstan.
India was represented by Vinay Kumar, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of India to the Russian Federation, Rajesh Kumar Kotecha, Secretary of Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India, Dana Kishore, Principal Secretary of the Department of Employment, Training and Overseas Employment and Vice-Chairman to the Telangana State Overseas Employment Corporation, Sandeep Kumar Sultania, Principal Secretary of the Finance Department Telangana Government, Hemlata Diwakar, Mayor of Agra, India, Purnima Anand, President of International Forum of BRICS+ Countries, Sammy Kotwani, President of “Indian Business Alliance”, and Manpreet Singh, Executive President of Indian Chamber of International Business (ICIB).
“Everything produced in Russia for the domestic market can be produced for the Indian market, which is tens of times larger. We expect the middle class in India to exceed 800 million people in the coming years. To develop and stimulate international trade, our government intends to open international ways where all decisions will be reached within one contact. We plan to develop these ways by industry, as some are interested in the defense industry, while others in pharmaceuticals, and still others in the vehicle manufacturing industry,” said Vinay Kumar, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of India to Russia.
The Forum featured 15 business sessions covering key areas: investment and finance, labour market, education and science, IT and digital technologies, medicine, petrochemical industry, agriculture, creative industries, film industry, and media. Ninety-three experts from various fields of business and science delivered their speeches.
The international exhibition “India and Tatarstan: New Approaches to Cooperation” showcasing the achievements and promising areas of bilateral cooperation, became an important part of the Forum. Five Indian and eleven Russian companies were represented at the exhibition.
“The TIME Forum is being held for the first time, but the actual results have already been achieved. Nineteen agreements have been signed, covering a wide range of areas from education and medicine to agro-industrial complex and entrepreneurship. These include a letter of intent to town twinning between Agra and the Spassky District of the Republic of Tatarstan (home to Taj Mahal and the ancient city of Bolgar, respectively), memoranda between universities in India and Russia, agreements with Indian partners on labour force recruitment, and the creation of an Indian-Tatarstan Business Club with the participation of the Chambers of Commerce and Industry of the both republics. These initiatives have laid a solid foundation for the development of long-term relations between the two countries. I am confident that the Forum's impact will be noticeable in the nearest future in new projects, contracts, and joint opportunities,” said Taliya Minullina, Head of the Tatarstan Investment Development Agency.
After a busy business programme, the Forum participants were able to relax and immerse themselves in a world of harmony thanks to an evening meditation led by Akashdeep Singh at the IT Park's startup hub.
The Forum's business agenda was complemented by cultural events such as Days of Indian Culture at the House of Friendship of Nations, an exhibition by digital artist Varun Desai, sightseeing tours of Kazan, and performances by creative groups.
During the Forum, on October 8-10, the “Mir” cinema hosted the Indian Film Festival, screening six films by Indian directors. On October 9, the Central Stadium hosted a friendly cricket match between Russia and India, featuring student teams from leading Russian universities, comprised of citizens of both countries.
Leading international and federal media published the information about the Forum. OTR, Mir24, Rossiya 24, TASS, RIA Novosti, Prime, Kommersant, RBK Group, Interfax, TV BRICS, “Rossiyskaya Gazeta”, “Komsomolskaya Pravda”, “Moskovsky Komsomolets”, Russia Today, “Argumenty i Facty”, “Izvestia”, and Business FM were represented at the Forum.
Among the leading Indian media representatives there were The Print, Sadhna News, Mathrubhumi Group, Press Trust of India, Indian Express, and Asian News International.
The Forum clearly demonstrated the interest of both the Russian and Indian sides in holding such comprehensive events, which encompass various areas and may be expanded to a different venue next year.
ANO “Directorate for International Programmes” acts as an operator for the preparation and conduct of the “TIME: Russia - India. Mutual Efficiency” Business Forum.
Around 3,500 people from 35 regions of Russia and 22 administrative divisions of India, as well as 206 media representatives, registered for the Forum.
The Forum gathered distinguished guests from Russia such as Sergey Cheremin, Minister of the Government of Moscow, Head of the Department for External Economic and International Relations of Moscow, Chairman of the Board, Business Council for Cooperation with India; Dmitry Razumovsky, Deputy Governor of the Kaluga Region, Head of the Ministry of Digital Development; and Vladimir Potemkin, Deputy Governor of the Kaluga Region, Head of the Representative Office of the Government of the Kaluga Region to the Government of the Russian Federation.
“Tatarstan attaches great importance on developing cooperation with India within the framework of relations between the two countries. The governments and business communities of our countries are actively working to expand interaction in various areas. We are ready to participate in these processes at the regional level. Our Republic has experience working with Indian partners. Delegations from your country, officials, and business partners visit Tatarstan. Representatives of our Republic are also frequent guests in India, we get to know each other and learn the best practices,” said Rustam Minnikhanov, Rais (Head) of the Republic of Tatarstan.
India was represented by Vinay Kumar, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of India to the Russian Federation, Rajesh Kumar Kotecha, Secretary of Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India, Dana Kishore, Principal Secretary of the Department of Employment, Training and Overseas Employment and Vice-Chairman to the Telangana State Overseas Employment Corporation, Sandeep Kumar Sultania, Principal Secretary of the Finance Department Telangana Government, Hemlata Diwakar, Mayor of Agra, India, Purnima Anand, President of International Forum of BRICS+ Countries, Sammy Kotwani, President of “Indian Business Alliance”, and Manpreet Singh, Executive President of Indian Chamber of International Business (ICIB).
“Everything produced in Russia for the domestic market can be produced for the Indian market, which is tens of times larger. We expect the middle class in India to exceed 800 million people in the coming years. To develop and stimulate international trade, our government intends to open international ways where all decisions will be reached within one contact. We plan to develop these ways by industry, as some are interested in the defense industry, while others in pharmaceuticals, and still others in the vehicle manufacturing industry,” said Vinay Kumar, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of India to Russia.
The Forum featured 15 business sessions covering key areas: investment and finance, labour market, education and science, IT and digital technologies, medicine, petrochemical industry, agriculture, creative industries, film industry, and media. Ninety-three experts from various fields of business and science delivered their speeches.
The international exhibition “India and Tatarstan: New Approaches to Cooperation” showcasing the achievements and promising areas of bilateral cooperation, became an important part of the Forum. Five Indian and eleven Russian companies were represented at the exhibition.
“The TIME Forum is being held for the first time, but the actual results have already been achieved. Nineteen agreements have been signed, covering a wide range of areas from education and medicine to agro-industrial complex and entrepreneurship. These include a letter of intent to town twinning between Agra and the Spassky District of the Republic of Tatarstan (home to Taj Mahal and the ancient city of Bolgar, respectively), memoranda between universities in India and Russia, agreements with Indian partners on labour force recruitment, and the creation of an Indian-Tatarstan Business Club with the participation of the Chambers of Commerce and Industry of the both republics. These initiatives have laid a solid foundation for the development of long-term relations between the two countries. I am confident that the Forum's impact will be noticeable in the nearest future in new projects, contracts, and joint opportunities,” said Taliya Minullina, Head of the Tatarstan Investment Development Agency.
After a busy business programme, the Forum participants were able to relax and immerse themselves in a world of harmony thanks to an evening meditation led by Akashdeep Singh at the IT Park's startup hub.
The Forum's business agenda was complemented by cultural events such as Days of Indian Culture at the House of Friendship of Nations, an exhibition by digital artist Varun Desai, sightseeing tours of Kazan, and performances by creative groups.
During the Forum, on October 8-10, the “Mir” cinema hosted the Indian Film Festival, screening six films by Indian directors. On October 9, the Central Stadium hosted a friendly cricket match between Russia and India, featuring student teams from leading Russian universities, comprised of citizens of both countries.
Leading international and federal media published the information about the Forum. OTR, Mir24, Rossiya 24, TASS, RIA Novosti, Prime, Kommersant, RBK Group, Interfax, TV BRICS, “Rossiyskaya Gazeta”, “Komsomolskaya Pravda”, “Moskovsky Komsomolets”, Russia Today, “Argumenty i Facty”, “Izvestia”, and Business FM were represented at the Forum.
Among the leading Indian media representatives there were The Print, Sadhna News, Mathrubhumi Group, Press Trust of India, Indian Express, and Asian News International.
The Forum clearly demonstrated the interest of both the Russian and Indian sides in holding such comprehensive events, which encompass various areas and may be expanded to a different venue next year.
ANO “Directorate for International Programmes” acts as an operator for the preparation and conduct of the “TIME: Russia - India. Mutual Efficiency” Business Forum.