India Opens Two New Consulates in Russia

• India inaugurates new Consulates General in Yekaterinburg and Kazan
• Move to enhance economic, technological and cultural cooperation
• Jaishankar thanks Russian authorities, highlights regional significance

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 19th Nov: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Wednesday said the opening of two new Indian Consulates General in Russia marks a new chapter in bilateral engagement. The missions in Yekaterinburg and Kazan were inaugurated in the presence of Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko, Indian Ambassador Vinay Kumar, regional authorities and members of the Indian community.

Jaishankar said India had been working consistently for months to operationalise the consulates at the earliest. He expressed gratitude to the Russian government and regional administrations of Tatarstan and Sverdlovsk Oblast for their cooperation.

Describing Yekaterinburg as Russia’s industrial powerhouse and gateway to Siberia, he said the consulate there would strengthen partnerships in heavy engineering, defence manufacturing, metallurgy, nuclear fuel, chemical sectors and medical equipment. He added that the location would also boost India’s participation in INNOPROM, a major economic forum hosted in the region.

Calling Kazan a multicultural hub and a bridge between Russia and Asia, Jaishankar said the new mission would promote academic, tourism and cultural exchanges while supporting Indian businesses and students. The city’s strengths in oil production, automobiles, defence, pharmaceuticals and electrical equipment were highlighted as areas of cooperation.

The minister expressed confidence that the consulates would enhance diplomatic outreach and act as catalysts to expand trade, technology and people-to-people ties between the two nations.