New Delhi: A series of new agreements between India and Russia are poised to create significant opportunities for jobs, skills development, and infrastructure enhancement. These partnerships aim to address Russia's growing demand for skilled labor while simultaneously boosting India's economy and providing its workforce with valuable international exposure.
One key aspect of the collaboration involves workforce mobility, with an estimated 70,000 jobs opening for Indian professionals in Russia across sectors like IT, construction, engineering, and manufacturing. Russia is facing a labor shortage and needs to fill 3.1 million jobs by 2030. This agreement helps meet Russia's target of deploying 500,000 semi-skilled workers, strengthening labor mobility and economic cooperation. To facilitate this, India and Russia have signed pacts to promote cooperation in vocational education, skilling, and training, as well as enhance exchanges between students, scholars, and sportspersons.
In the maritime sector, India and Russia have signed two Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) focused on strengthening connectivity and expanding shipbuilding cooperation under the "Make in India" initiative. One MoU aims to train Indian seafarers for operations in polar waters, aligning with the STCW Convention and the Polar Code. This includes the joint development of specialized training programs and the exchange of expertise to ensure safe operations in ice-bound and extreme weather conditions. The Prime Minister noted that this will strengthen Arctic cooperation and open new employment opportunities for India’s youth. The second MoU establishes a structured mechanism for regular consultations on maritime policy, safety, security, and the peaceful use of seas and oceans, in accordance with international law.
These maritime collaborations will be advanced through strategic corridors such as the International North–South Transport Corridor (INSTC), which is expected to increase container movement significantly, strengthening India's access to Russia and Central Asia. The Northern Sea Route (NSR) has been identified as a strategic Arctic shipping route, shortening distances between Asia and Europe. Additionally, the Chennai–Vladivostok Eastern Maritime Corridor (EMC) is expected to drive port expansion, rail connectivity, and industrial development, including LNG and fertilizer infrastructure in the Russian Far East.
The India-Russia partnership extends to the energy sector, with Russia supporting India's ambitions to expand its nuclear capacity as part of its clean energy and energy security strategy. This includes opportunities for reactor construction, fuel supply, engineering, service contracts, and localization of manufacturing. Expanded energy ties in oil, gas, coal, and nuclear, including small modular reactors and floating nuclear power plants, will provide India with stable base load options while transitioning to greener solutions.
Furthermore, India and Russia have agreed on an Economic Cooperation Programme until 2030, with the goal of boosting bilateral trade to $100 billion within five years. This program emphasizes innovation, co-production, and co-creation, with agreements signed on workforce mobility, fertilizers, food safety, and shipping. Both nations will also collaborate on critical minerals and national currency settlements.
These multifaceted collaborations between India and Russia are expected to generate jobs, build future-ready skills, and create resilient supply chains, reinforcing the strategic partnership between the two nations.
