1st India-Russia Joint Committee on Science and Technology Cooperation held

To bolster the cooperation in the science and technology sector, India and Russia on 21 June 2017 identified key areas of cooperation in the sector. The identified areas include space and marine technologies, IT and deep ocean engineering.

The areas were chosen at the first meeting of India-Russia Joint Committee on Science and Technology Cooperation in the Siberian city of Novosibirsk. The meeting was co-chaired by the Defence Minister Arun Jaitley and the Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin.

The India-Russia High-Level Committee on Science and Technology is a newly established committee and it was established to discuss cooperation in high technologies. Reports suggest that the both sides finalised the working procedures for the Committee to ensure speedy decision making in implementing joint projects.

The meeting was held on the sidelines of the Technoprom Exhibition in the city of Novosibirsk. Technoprom is a major annual science, technology and innovation exhibition of Russia. In addition to this, the Defence Minister also addressed the main Plenary Session of the Technoprom, which is a major annual science, technology and innovation exhibition of Russia.

Highlights of the Speech of the two sides

Describing Russia as a partner of choice for India in the high technology sector, Jaitley said the new mechanism will further energise the bilateral partnership. He also added that it will help in opening up advanced areas of cooperation which will benefit the future generations.

Rogozin praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Make in India' initiative and said it was an inspiration for Russia to launch its own version of the drive to enhance industrialisation.

Moscow has launched a "Do It in Russia" initiative to promote local manufacturing and technology development.
At present, Jaitley is on a three-day visit to Russia. Jaitley will now travel to Moscow to co-chair the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military-Technological Cooperation with his Russian counterpart, General Sergei Shoigu. The meeting is scheduled to be held on 23 June 2017.

During the meeting, the two nations will review the entire range of military and military-technical cooperation issues between India and Russia within the framework of the Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership between the two countries.