Indian Ambassador at SPIEF 2026: Cooperation Prospects and Visa-Free Negotiations

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of India to Russia Vinay Kumar delivered speech as part of the Russia-India Business Dialogue at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF 2026). The diplomat outlined key areas for developing bilateral relations and shared plans for expanding economic cooperation.

The ambassador emphasised the transformative nature of the reforms being implemented in India to accelerate economic growth. These reforms are aimed at achieving the strategic goal of “Developed India 2047” (Viksit Bharat 2047). According to Vinay Kumar, these changes open up new opportunities for the development of Indian-Russian trade and investment. One of the key objectives is to achieve the target of $100 billion in trade turnover by 2030. According to various estimates, the current level is $70 billion.

Vinay Kumar presented a number of investment projects already underway and outlined prospects for new investments. He focused on the “three Ts” – three key areas of cooperation: trade, technology, and tourism. Furthermore, the ambassador highlighted two important areas for strengthening the partnership: developing cooperation in the mobility of skilled professionals, as well as diversifying and reducing risks in supply chains.

During a conversation with media, Vinay Kumar confirmed that negotiations between India and Russia on introducing a visa-free regime for tourist groups are ongoing. At the same time, the diplomat reminded that an E-visa mechanism is already in place between the countries at the moment. It applies to both organised tourist groups and individual travelers.

A high-level delegation from the state of Andhra Pradesh, led by Nara Lokesh, Minister for Information Technology, Electronics and Communications of the state government, and internationally recognised spiritual leader and humanitarian Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, also participated in the Russia-India Business Dialogue session.