When Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets Russian President Vladimir Putin in Tianjin on 1 September 2025, the agenda will go beyond diplomacy. Their talks on trade, energy, and global security will feed directly into the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) in Vladivostok a few days later, where India has a chance to cement its role in Russia’s Far East.
Vladivostok: the gateway
The EEF has become Moscow’s flagship platform for attracting global investment into its Far Eastern region—one of the most resource-rich but underdeveloped territories on earth. Oil, gas, coal, timber, diamonds, and rare-earth metals lie at its core. To lure investors, Russia has created the Priority Development Areas and the Free Port of Vladivostok, offering tax holidays and simplified regulation.
For Indian businesses, the attraction is clear:
1. Energy projects in oil, gas, LNG, and renewables.
2. Infrastructure & logistics, including modern ports and access to the Northern Sea Route—the potential shortest bridge between Asia and Europe.
3. IT & technology, from digitalization to biotechnology.
4. Pharmaceuticals & healthcare, with scope for joint R&D and manufacturing.
The Chennai–Vladivostok corridor: from map to movement
This year, the spotlight is on the Eastern Maritime Corridor (EMC)—the sea link between Chennai and Vladivostok. Once a strategic blueprint, it is now proving its worth on the water. In FY 2024–25 alone, coal shipments surged 87%, and crude oil volumes grew 48% year-on-year.
Geography provides India a competitive edge. The traditional Mumbai–St. Petersburg route via Suez covers 8,675 nautical miles (16,066 km). By contrast, Chennai–Vladivostok via EMC spans only 5,647 nautical miles (10,458 km)—a vital saving as Red Sea disruptions and Suez Canal risks push shipping firms toward safer alternatives.
The Arctic gamble
Another item high on the EEF agenda is the Trans-Arctic Corridor (TAC), which promises to cut Asia–Europe transit times by up to half. Western countries are resisting this with sanctions, higher insurance premiums, and negative campaigns, but Russia and its Asian partners—including India—see the corridor as a way to rewire global logistics.
Beyond symbolism
The EEF is more than a talking shop. It is a deal-making arena where Indian firms can negotiate directly with Russian corporations and regional authorities. With U.S. tariffs tightening and supply chains being reset, the Far East offers India both opportunity and leverage.
Toward a new bridge
For Moscow, India is a reliable partner and for New Delhi, Russia’s Far East is a new frontier for energy security, connectivity, and diversification.
When Modi and Putin shake hands in Tianjin, Vladivostok will already be preparing to welcome their countries’ businesses. The question is whether Indian companies will turn strategic intent into bold investment on the ground.