India and Russia have advanced a new phase of cooperation across fisheries, animal husbandry and dairy following a high-level bilateral meeting held alongside the 23rd India–Russia Annual Summit. The discussions—led by Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh and Russian Agriculture Minister Oxana Lut—reinforced the momentum behind the countries’ Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership.

Both sides assessed avenues to scale bilateral trade, ease market access hurdles and expedite the accreditation of Indian export facilities in Russia. With India’s fish and fishery exports reaching $ 7.45 billion in 2024–25, including $ 127 million to Russia, the meeting highlighted substantial scope to diversify the export basket into shrimp, mackerel, sardines, tuna, crab and squid. Russia indicated readiness to import a wider range of Indian fisheries, meat and dairy products, following the recent addition of 19 Indian units to the FSVPS approval list.

Technology-driven collaboration emerged as a central theme, with India outlining opportunities in deep-sea vessel infrastructure, Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS), Biofloc-based production, onboard processing and high-value seafood. The two nations also identified coldwater fisheries, genetic enhancement programmes and frontier aquaculture technologies as areas with strong potential for joint development.

Beyond trade, the meeting sought to deepen institutional and scientific linkages. India proposed an MoU to anchor long-term cooperation in research, training and expert exchanges. Russia conveyed interest in collaborative work on veterinary vaccines, equipment manufacturing and expanded academic partnerships to strengthen sectoral capabilities.

The deliberations concluded with a reaffirmed commitment to broaden commercial, technical and scientific engagement across fisheries, livestock and dairy. Senior representatives from the Departments of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, ICAR and MPEDA were present, signaling a coordinated push toward a more resilient, technology-forward India–Russia agri-trade ecosystem.