Vyacheslav Trubnikov

Guwahati, May 4: Russia is keen to invest in oil and gas, tourism, power and infrastructure development in Assam.

Russian ambassador to India, Vyacheslav Trubnikov, said this during a meeting at Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi’s official residence today.

Senior officials of the Russian Federation Government and their Assam counterparts were present at the meeting.

Trubnikov said his country wanted to develop close ties with the northeastern part of India and help the region in its process of development.

“We want to be partners with the governments of the northeastern states,” he said.

Trubnikov described the security scenario in the region, particularly in Assam, as conducive to investment.

“The threat perception in Assam and other parts of the region is not as it is made out to be in the print and electronic media.

The impression of insecurity here is exaggerated and over exaggerated. It’s safer than in Mumbai. That’s why, at the directive of our President, Vladimir Putin, we have come here to help you in your endeavour to take the state towards the path of progress and development and to bring it closer to Russian society,” he said.

The Russian ambassador said he would make every effort to draw tourists from his country to this part of India, which has remained largely unexplored by the Russians.

“I will try to ensure an inflow of Russian tourists here at a time when the Year of Russia is being celebrated in India this year,” he said.

Trubnikov also requested Gogoi to showcase the tourism potential of the state in the Year of India programme to be held in Russia next year.

As for investment, Sistema, the largest consumer-oriented private sector company in Russia, wants to start business in the state in areas like oil and gas infrastructure development, telecom and tourism.

The chief representative of Sistema in India, Alexander A. Chinyaev, said his company invested $50bn in India last year and has more plans on the anvil this year for India, including the Northeast.

Gogoi thanked the Russian ambassador and his team for coming forward to explore the state and for showing willingness to invest in the key areas.

The chief minister also urged them to explore other sectors like food processing, medicinal plants, bio-fuel and agriculture.