'Trade between India, Russia inadequate'

MUMBAI, OCT. 4. The Russian President, Mr. Vladimir Putin, tonight said trade and business relations between Russia and India had not grown to the extent he would have liked them to.

Mr. Putin was echoing the concern expressed by the Maharashtra Governor, Dr. P. C. Alexander, who hosted a dinner in his honour, that the $ 1.6 billion bilateral trade was inadequate compared to the trade potential between the two countries, a Raj Bhavan communique said here.

Earlier, welcoming the Russian President, Dr. Alexander said Maharashtra was the third largest but the most advanced State of India in terms of industry and business, with several major business houses having their corporate offices in Mumbai, the country's commercial capital.

The Governor described Mr. Putin's visit as an ``important milestone'' in the relations between the two countries. Describing Mr. Putin's address to the joint session of Parliament as ``remarkable and heart warming,'' he said the address had reaffirmed the strength and warmth of understanding.

The declaration of strategic partnership, signed between the two countries, had given de jure status to the de facto partnership between the two nations.

During the course of his speech, Dr. Alexander said Russia had a special connection with Mumbai. ``In 1466, the Russian traveller, Afnasi Nikitin, had visited Alibaug near Mumbai.'' The Governor later presented an idol of Lord Krishna made of sandalwood to the Russian President.

The dinner was also attended by the Chief Minister, Mr. Vilasrao Deshmukh, Deputy Chief Minister, Mr. Chhagan Bhujbal, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command, Admiral Madhavendra Singh, and captains of industry, trade and other distinguished invitees.

- PTI

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