'India, Russia can explore business opportunities in nanotech'

Moscow, Jul 7 (PTI) Upbeat about the prospects of
bilateral ties in all spheres, Ajai Malhotra, the new Indian
Ambassador to Russia, has said the two countries share a
dynamic defence relationship and can also explore business
opportunities in fields like biotechnology and nanotechnology.
Despite increasing global competition, India and Russia
have "a dynamic and growing defence relationship, not a waning
one," Malhotra, who will present his credentials to President
Dmitry Medvedev at a Kremlin ceremony on July 14, told the
government daily 'Rossiiskaya Gazeta' in an interview.
"Our defence cooperation is progressing well and is one
of the important pillars of our special and privileged
strategic partnership," he said.
The Ambassador noted that over the years, bilateral
defence cooperation has transformed from a simple buyer-seller
relationship into one involving joint research, joint
development and joint production of advanced defence systems.
He said both countries will continue to consolidate their
military-technical cooperation in a long-term perspective and
also deepen service-to-service cooperation.
"The BrahMos cruise missile is a good example of this.
Besides BrahMos, projects for the manufacture of T-90 tanks
and SU-30MKI fighter aircraft are also being undertaken in
India.
"More than that, we are jointly developing the Fifth
Generation Fighter Aircraft. Similarly, we are co-developing a
Multi-role Transport Aircraft," Malhotra underscored.
He also underlined an emerging partnership between the
two time-tested partners in fields of innovation and
modernisation.

India can be a reliable, long-term partner in Russia's
modernisation programme, the Ambassador said adding the Indian
companies have the capacity to invest and have the
technological edge in many sectors.
"India can be a technology source for Russia in IT,
pharmaceuticals and hydrocarbon processing. It can be a
dependable partner in long-term arrangements concerning
diamond-processing, fertilisers and hydrocarbons.
"Together we can explore business opportunities in
sectors such as biotechnology, bioinformatics and
nanotechnology," Malhotra said.
Malhotra arrived here in May to replace Prabhat Prakash
Shukla, who completed his term in March on retirement from the
Foreign Service.
From day one, he has been reaching out to various
sections of the Russian society. However, his decision to
liberalise visas for the Russian tourists and business has won
hearts and minds of millions, as Kremlin is embroiled in
negotiations to seek easier visa from the European Union.
Malhotra's order for issuance of the six-month
multi-entry tourist visas and one-year business visa to the
Russian citizens in three working days hit headlines even in
the local media in the remote towns of the vast Eurasian
giant.