MOSCOW, October 13 (RIA Novosti) – India's role among Russian trade partners will increase over the course of a one-year ban on agricultural and food products from a number of Western countries imposed by Moscow in response to sanctions on the country, a member of the Russian Civic Chamber's agricultural commission said Monday.
"India is one of Russia's most important trading partners and its role will be growing amid our embargo on food product imports from European countries. Currently, there are perfect conditions for increasing mutually beneficial cooperation between our countries in the field of agriculture and food import from India," Alexander Khamidullin said during the RIA Novosti video conference "Russia – India: prospects of export-import cooperation."
Khamidullin noted that unlike the goods from other countries, Indian products like sesame, rice, coffee, tea and many other items "have never been grown in Russia, which makes them especially important and unique for the country's market."
Russia's introduction of a one-year ban on products from a number of Western countries came in response to several rounds of Western sanctions against Russian officials and companies amid the escalation of the situation in Ukraine.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly stated that the effect of sanctions on the country is more positive than negative and that Russia will always find alternatives to replace those that do not want to work with the country.
