New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will have a bilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Uzbekistan, the Kremlin confirmed on Tuesday.
"There are plans to discuss issues of 'saturation' of the Indian market with Russian fertilizers and bilateral food supplies," Kremlin said in its handout, reported Reuters.
Focus Of Modi-Putin Interaction
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin have only interacted over the phone since the Covid crisis began. This will be the first in-person meeting between the two leaders in almost two years.
"First of all, moves, aimed at boosting bilateral trade flows, will be looked at. The trade turnover reached $11.5 billion in the first half of 2022, up almost 120% year-on-year," the Kremlin said, as per Reuters.
India's fertiliser imports from Russia increased to $1.03 billion in April-July compared to $773.54 million in the whole of the last fiscal year to March 31, 2022, according to the Indian commerce ministry.
India is aiming for a three-year fertiliser import deal with Russia. India tried to sign a long-term fertiliser import deal earlier this year which got stuck due to changing geopolitical situation after Russia launched its "special military operation" in Ukraine on February 24.
SCO Summit
PM Modi will also interact with Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on the sidelines of the SCO summit 2022 in Samarkand.
Pakistan Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi are also expected to attend the summit. Uzbekistan is the chair of SCO 2022 and India will be the next chair of the SCO.
The SCO summit will witness the in-person meeting of the heads of states on September 15 and 16 in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.