Commerce Minister Anand Sharma visits Russia to boost trade

India Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma is arriving here later today with a large business delegation on a three-day visit to boost bilateral trade.

Sharma will address the third India-Russia Business Forum tomorrow at which the Indian industry would be represented by over sixty top business executives. From the Russian side the Forum would be addressed by Economic Development Minister Elvira Nabiullina.

During his Moscow visit, Sharma is also to interact with Russian Industries and Trade Minister Viktor Khristenko to explore ways for exploiting the potential offered by two emerging economies.

On the last leg of his Russia visit, Sharma is scheduled to inaugurate the 'India Show' in St Petersburg on Wednesday.

At the four-day 'India Show' organised within the framework of ongoing Year of India in Russia, 153 Indian entities are to offer from IT products to jewellery and spices, space technology to handicrafts to the potential Russian importers.

According to Indian Ambassador Prabhat Prakash Shukla, the two countries are confidently moving to achieve the bilateral trade target of $10 billion in 2010, set by the top political leadership of India and Russia.