Mumbai, Marketplace, Moscow: Three 'M's for Russian exports to India

Russian exporters in India now have at least three doors open to them. The first is in Navi Mumbai, at the permanent 'Made in Russia' pavilion, where they can showcase their products and meet distributors. The second is on the smartphone of the Indian shopper, as Russian brands establish themselves on Amazon India and specialist platforms. The third opens on 16 November in Moscow, at the 'Made in Russia' International Export Forum.

All three lead to the same market, but each calls for a different approach. At the pavilion, what counts is the sample and the face-to-face conversation. In a marketplace, it is the product listing, the reviews and flawless logistics. At the forum, it is the ability to explain to a partner how work around the product will be built for the long term.

Door one: A place you can walk into

The permanent pavilion in Navi Mumbai has changed the very geography of how Indian buyers get to know Russian goods. Previously, this often depended on the exhibition calendar and the visit of a delegation. Now an Indian importer has an address where they can see products from Russian companies, request samples, and arrange a meeting. The resident companies include major food brands, among them Makfa, United Confectioners, Miratorg, and Dikaya Sibir.


The pavilion's main value shows on an ordinary weekday, when there is no ceremonial event: The operator answers questions, keeps in touch with buyers, helps prepare negotiations, and maintains the brand's presence between major events. For a country the size of India, consistency matters all the more. A successful presentation does not in itself create a national market, but it may well be the start of a chain of regional connections.

Door two: A screen the size of a palm

Online trade shortens some of the distance, but it brings its own requirements. Amazon India is already building up a section for Russian goods, and in beauty, Nykaa, and Tira remain key channels as well. For a manufacturer, this is a separate environment with its own rules, where the buyer compares ingredients, price, and rating within seconds, and an unfamiliar brand has to win attention without a tasting or a handshake.

That is why offline and online reinforce each other. At the pavilion, you can explain a product's origin, let people try it and hear their questions; on a marketplace, you can turn the resulting interest into a purchase and a repeat order. Russian cosmetics brands are already using Indian digital platforms, and food producers gain the chance to test demand beyond a single city.

These channels are linked by the state programme promoting domestic products under the single national brand 'Made in Russia', run by the Russian Export Centre. The ecosystem includes voluntary certification, business missions, national pavilions, exhibition formats, and information promotion. For an Indian partner, it is a convenient navigation system for Russian suppliers; for a manufacturer, it means not having to start every contact from scratch

Door three: Moscow

The 16 November forum is devoted to technology exports, innovation, and digital solutions. This emphasis matters greatly for Russian-Indian cooperation: Bilateral trade is habitually described in terms of energy and large state projects, although the modern agenda is considerably broader. In May 2026, a multi-sector 'Made in Russia' business mission to Mumbai brought together companies from mechanical engineering, IT, energy, transport, and mining. Russian exports to India supported by the REC Group exceeded 103.3 billion rubles in 2025.

At an interactive exhibition at the Russia National Centre, Indian delegations will be able to see developments in robotics, medicine, industry, and digital technology. What matters most here is the chance to talk to the team that created the solution. For complex equipment or a software platform, a brochure is not enough: The partner needs to discuss compatibility, localisation, training, and service.

The forum also brings together people who rarely meet on one platform: A developer from a Russian region, an Indian integrator, a distributor, a representative of an industry association, and an export team.

Three doors, one corridor

The pavilion, the marketplace and the forum answer different questions: Where to see the product, where to buy it, and whom to discuss a major project with? Together, they make cooperation less dependent on chance encounters, because a Russian brand can be physically present, digitally accessible, and part of the professional dialogue.

India does not like one-size-fits-all recipes: There are too many languages, regions, pricing habits, and trade formats. But that is exactly why a system with several points of entry suits it so well. One partner will start at the pavilion in Navi Mumbai, another will find the brand online, and a third will fly to Moscow for production technology.

A good export door has a simple property: It opens in both directions. Russian companies gain a route to Indian buyers and businesses, while Indian partners gain access to a wider circle of Russian manufacturers. The 'Made in Russia' Forum brings them together on a single map and helps them work out where to go next.

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