Karelia and India discussed prospects for tourism and economic cooperation

The Consul General of India in St. Petersburg, Ms. Neelam Rani, paid a working visit to Karelia. The working meeting was attended by Anton Fokin, the Minister of Economic Development of the Republic of Karelia; Alexander Lysenkovsky, the President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the region; and Olesya Dikun, the Advisor to the Representative Office of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Petrozavodsk.

The parties discussed the prospects for developing cooperation in economics, tourism, and education. One of the key topics of the meeting was development of the tourist exchange. The Karelian side presented the regional tourism potential, focusing on the UNESCO World Heritage sites, the Kizhi Pogost and the Onega and Belomorsky petroglyphs. It was noted that the growing interest of the Indian tourists opens up opportunities for creation of new tourist routes and establishment of direct contacts between the Russian and the Indian tour operators.

– Karelia is interested in expanding cooperation with India in various areas. We see significant potential in developing tourism, strengthening business ties between enterprises, and implementing joint educational initiatives. It is important that our cooperation has practical implications and facilitates direct contacts between organizations and companies, – noted Anton Fokin.

The meeting also discussed the prospects for trade and economic cooperation. Particular attention was paid to developing cooperation in the forestry and mining sectors, as well as organizing direct B2B meetings between the Karelian and the Indian companies. The representatives of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Republic of Karelia expressed their willingness to facilitate establishment of business contacts and conduct relevant negotiations.

The Consul General noted the Karelian tourism and economic potential and expressed her willingness to promote the region in India. The Indian side also proposed organizing reciprocal business missions and invited the Karelian representatives to participate in the major business events held in India, including the international investment summit, Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit.

Following the meeting, the participants confirmed their mutual interest in developing cooperation and agreed to continue working to establish direct contacts between the representatives of business, the tourism industry, and the educational institutions in Karelia and India.

Карелия и Индия обсудили перспективы туристического и экономического сотрудничества