Leading Russian aviation, space, and engineering companies are showcasing their technology at the first INNOPROM. India industrial fair in New Delhi, as the two countries seek to expand trade and industrial cooperation.
The three-day fair features Russian products and technologies across sectors including aviation, space, advanced manufacturing, and industrial engineering.
Aviation is a big area of focus as India, the world’s third-largest aviation market, is looking for planes to increase connectivity between its regional hubs and fast-growing tier-2 and tier-3 cities.
India’s state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited has a cooperation agreement with Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) for the SJ-100 program in India. UAC will also supply six Ilyushin Il-114-300 aircraft to Indian regional carrier Flamingo Aerospace.
The UAC booth features models of the SJ-100, Il-114-300, and MC-21-310 aircraft, alongside a model of the PD-8 turbofan engine used on the SJ-100. UAC head Vadim Badekha said in June that Indian carriers have expressed interest in the planes. Multiple agreements are expected to be signed, RT India reported.
Russia’s state space corporation (Roscosmos) is also represented at the fair. India’s space program has longstanding ties to the Soviet and Russian space programs, with cooperation continuing in areas including India’s planned crewed spaceflight program.
Other exhibits include industrial robots, detector technology used in nuclear power plants, and smart devices, reflecting cooperation extending beyond aviation and space into industrial technology and automation.
India and Russia are accelerating efforts to reach the bilateral trade target of $100 billion, which was set during Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to New Delhi in December. Putin is set to return to the Indian capital this week for the BRICS summit.
The two countries are also seeking to expand industrial cooperation beyond trade. Russia is ready to expand technology-sharing and industrial cooperation with India, Deputy Industry and Trade Minister Roman Chekushov said last week.
“We will be present in those sectors where we are strong... in key areas such as transport infrastructure, communication, space, and the fuel and energy complex, chemicals, including both organic and inorganic,” the vice president of Russia’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Vladimir Padalko, told RT India. “Everything related to food security in India, and of course, digital transformations, artificial intelligence.”
The fair has brought together more than 120 Russian and Indian companies. The plenary session on Thursday will be attended by Russian Industry and Trade Minister Anton Alikhanov and Indian Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal.
INNOPROM. India is organized by the Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade and India’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry, with support from Formika Events and the Confederation of Indian Industry. The Russian Trade Representation in India is also supporting the event.