The Hindu Business Line : Modi signs protocol of cooperation with Astrakhan of Russia

The Gujarat Chief Minister, Mr Narendra Modi, who was on a six-day visit to the Russian Federation along with a 16-member business delegation, has signed a protocol of cooperation with the Astrakhan province Governor, Mr Alexander Zhilkin, extending cooperation between the two states until November 2011, official reports said here.

Accordingly, Gujarat and Astrakhan would cooperate in five key areas of hydrocarbon research and development, shipbuilding and ship-breaking, reviving the trade route called the North-South International Cargo Container Transport Corridor between Okha port in Gujarat and Olya port in Astrakhan through the Iranian rail-sea-road network, distance learning in university education, and a tourism package incorporating Astrakhan participation in the State's Navratri and vibrant Gujarat festivals.

The delegation discussed with their Astrakhan counterparts the issue of using the corridor as the shortest land route between India and the Russian states and eastern Europe and offered Gujarat ports as the gateway for ships via Iran ports for cargo traffic to Europe, as part of reviving a shortened trade route after a lapse of four centuries.

In November 2001, Mr Modi had, as part of a delegation led by the then Prime Minister, Mr Atal Bihari Vajpayee, signed an agreement with Astrakhan, which has now been extended up to November 2011, according to a release.

Gujarat and Astrakhan would also constitute a joint committee to oversee the business and trade component of the protocol.

Astrakhan's expertise with shipbuilding would synergise with Gujarat's experience in ship-breaking at Alang.

Gujarat would also participate in the renovation of "Indian Trade House" in Astrakhan on the occasion of the latter's 450th foundation anniversary, and in setting up a yoga-cum-ayurveda entity there.

Astrakhan would send a high-level cultural-cum-commercial delegation to Gujarat to participate in the Navratri 2006 Festival and the Vibrant Gujarat's Global Investors' Summit-2007, the release added.

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