India and Russia are expected to sign deals worth over USD 10 billion, including in defence and civilian nuclear sectors, and conclude the long-delayed agreement on aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov during Vladimir Putin’s New Delhi visit beginning Thursday.
“We expect the signing of 14-15 agreements after the talks and contracts worth over USD 10 billion,” Putin’s foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov told reporters in Moscow Wednesday.
During the talks in New Delhi, special focus would be laid on bilateral interaction in hi-tech sectors like civilian nuclear energy, defence industry and production of telecom equipment.
Additional agreement on retrofitting of Admiral Gorshkov aircraft carrier, the contract for supply of additional 29 naval MiG29K fighters, and a deal to jointly develop a transport aircraft are among those to be signed during Putin’s visit.
According to the delivery agreement for Admiral Gorshkov, an irritant in the bilateral ties, New Delhi would shell out an additional USD 2.35 billion for the up-gradation of the carrier and training of Indian naval crews.
“Besides the two countries are also expected to sign the agreement for the construction of two more nuclear reactors at Kudankulam NPP in addition to two already in the completion stage,” Ushakov said.
Putin, who last visited India as Russian president in 2007, would begin the official part of his visit on Friday by calling on President Pratibha Patil and Congress President Sonia Gandhi.
He is also slated to hold a video conference with the Indian business leaders and cultural activists, including active listeners of the Voice of Russia radio’s Indian broadcasts, who will gather in Mumbai, Kolkata and Bangalore.
The main talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who had visited Russia in December last year, would be held in the later half of Friday.
