‘We have direct orders to import more from India’: Top Russian industrial leader

Russia’s growing demand for skilled labor opens new opportunities for Indian workers, according to Sergei Krasilnikov, Vice President of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RSPP).

Krasilnikov revealed that Russia needs 5 million workers from abroad, and India is in a unique position to help fill this gap. He also said that the Russian business community has received a direct order from the Kremlin to import more from India.

“We have calculated that Russia needs about 5 million workers from abroad. So this (India) is a fairly huge market. We are here only to provide direct access to Russian companies, which need Indian manpower,” he said in an exclusive conversation with Business Today.

Krasilnikov detailed the discussions that took place between the Russian delegation and their Indian counterparts during the two-day India-Russia Business Forum in New Delhi. He also confirmed that Russian importers have received direct orders from President Vladimir Putin to increase imports from India.

He explained: “We came here with direct instructions from our government to buy Indian goods. We are only here to do this job effectively with our Indian partners. Because our trade is unbalanced. What we sell to India is ten times more than what we buy.”

When asked about the policy changes needed to facilitate this growing partnership, Krasilnikov pointed to the importance of finalizing the free trade agreement. “This is one of the priorities, and our colleagues started negotiations in November. They will continue in February, and we hope to reduce tariffs on key Indian goods. For example, in the textile industry, duties reach 12%. This prevents some industries from effectively purchasing Indian goods,” Krasilnikov said.

He also addressed the challenges posed by sanctions and what he described as “excessive compliance.” “From my point of view, this is an over-compliance. We also discussed logistics and transport connectivity, which is a key issue. We support the FESCO project (one of the largest transport and logistics companies in Russia) to create a container line between Chennai and Vladivostok. But we need Indian goods. They (the Russians) mainly import coal, but they still need to find some goods so that they do not go empty to Vladivostok,” Krasilnikov added.

Echoing these sentiments, Manish Kumar, Chairman, Saltex Group, highlighted the potential for India to integrate more closely with the Russian economy through its skilled workforce. “Russia needs a 5 million workforce. Russia is a close ally of ours, and we must integrate their economy with our skilled labor so that we are in a win-win situation. We need job opportunities for our youth, and Russia needs skilled workers,” Kumar said.

Kumar also explained his group’s initiative to train welders for the Russian market. “From December 15, we are starting a technical program with a very prominent Russian university in the field of welding. The welders will get all the training on the Russian welding machine that we import from Russia. Everything is already connected, and when the program starts, the trained welders with technical knowledge in Russian will go there,” he explained.

“Next, we are planning for robotics, drones and other areas that Russia needs. We have to create this kind of ecosystem in India where skilled labor will be trained according to Russian requirements, not just what we send. We have to understand their requirements as well,” Kumar added.

The SALTEX Group Chairman also stressed the importance of finalizing the Free Trade Agreement. “India needs to conclude the FTA because Russia is not just the Russian market, it is an association of five countries. It is a huge market, and once the FTA is concluded and the tariff barrier is removed, it will really boost trade,” Kumar concluded.