India and Russia have intensified efforts to expand bilateral trade in fisheries, meat and dairy products ahead of the upcoming Modi–Putin meeting, with both sides focusing on removing long-standing market access barriers and accelerating regulatory clearances. In negotiations held in New Delhi on Thursday, India’s Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Rajiv Ranjan Singh, and Russian Agriculture Minister Oxana Lut discussed a broad framework to deepen cooperation across trade, technology and animal health systems.
Russia signalled strong interest in increasing imports of Indian fishery and meat products while also exploring collaboration in veterinary vaccines and animal health management. The discussion comes at a time when India’s fisheries exports touched USD 7.45 billion in 2024–25, including USD 127 million worth of shipments to Russia. Singh highlighted the potential to expand exports of shrimp, prawns, mackerel, sardines, tuna, crab, squid and cuttlefish, supported by India’s rising processing and cold-chain capacity.
In a key development, Russia has authorised 19 additional Indian fisheries units, bringing the total approved establishments to 128. India, however, pressed for faster approvals for the remaining units and urged early clearance for Indian dairy, buffalo meat and poultry exporters. Twelve Indian dairy companies, including Amul/GCMMF, are currently awaiting registration with Russia’s Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance (FSVPS).
Beyond trade, both ministers agreed to strengthen collaboration in research, education and emerging aquaculture technologies, including deep-sea fishing, Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS) and Biofloc. India also proposed forming a structured mechanism under a new Memorandum of Understanding to streamline joint initiatives, with specific interest from both sides in cold-water fisheries, trout development and genetic improvement programmes.
The talks underline renewed momentum in India–Russia agri-food engagement, with the focus now shifting to regulatory alignment, technology partnerships and unlocking higher-value export opportunities for Indian producers.
