Indo-Russian tieup to get nuclear boost

NEW DELHI: The UPA government in its second term seems to be working on re-energising the strategic partnership with Russia. The sheen had gone off the bilateral relationship in the first term of the UPA, with the government focussing just on the Indo-US civilian nuclear deal. But now that appears to be changing as the same civilian nuclear agreement seems to have given Indo-Russian ties a new lease of life. For now, Russia and India are negotiating four reactors ��� two in Kudankulum and two in West Bengal ��� with more reactors in the pipeline, sources said.

In fact, ahead of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh���s visit to Russia, which is likely to take place from December 6 to 8, the two sides have looked at the entire gamut of strategic relationship. One area of focus is trade where the attempt is to move away from the traditional items of trade towards high-level investments in sectors like pharma and agro chemicals.

���We are looking at taking bilateral trade to $15 billion by 2012, excluding defence, space and nuclear. We have identified priority sectors and see scope in pharma and agro chemicals,��� said commerce minister Anand Sharma who was in Russia recently to increase trade. At the meeting of the Third India-Russia Forum on Trade and Investments, the two sides identified the priority sectors.

Indian side has shown interest in auto components and engineering while Russia is interested in mining, metallurgy and IT infrastructure. Mr Sharma, who had also called on Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, had also said ties with Russia were not at the cost of other countries and that ���Russia remains in the focus of Indian radar���.