Russian President Vladimir Putin Arrives In India, PM Modi Receives Him At Airport

India is preparing for a high-profile two-day state visit by Russian President Vladimir Putin, with officials expecting major steps to deepen economic cooperation and ease trade imbalances. The 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit in New Delhi is set to focus on commerce, energy security, defence supplies and smoother payment routes.

Government sources said Putin is travelling with a large group of Russian business leaders, signalling strong intent to widen commercial links. New agreements are expected to cover trade, investment and cooperation in key sectors, while both sides try to shield their economic partnership from sanctions and global financial shocks.

Putin visit India economic ties and trade targets

India and Russia have set a goal of reaching $100 billion in bilateral trade by 2030. Current figures show a sharp imbalance. In 2024-25, India exported goods worth $4.9 billion to Russia, while imports from Russia were $63.8 billion, leaving a trade deficit close to $59 billion.

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said at the India-Russia Business Forum, hosted by FICCI, that bilateral trade is moving towards $70 billion, "but we cannot rest, we need to grow, we need to balance that,". Goyal highlighted that both sides are looking to increase Indian exports and make trade more even.

Putin visit India economic ties and export push

Officials indicated that boosting Indian exports will be central to the summit agenda. They said talks will cover pharmaceuticals, automobiles, agricultural and marine products, along with other manufactured goods. The aim is to secure greater access for Indian items in the Russian market and widen the export basket.

One government source stressed the domestic benefits from such gains. "Indian businesses and products will get a bigger market and this will also boost job creation and well-being of our farmers," the source said, suggesting that rural incomes and manufacturing jobs could rise if new market openings are agreed.

Putin visit India economic ties across key sectors

Sources said shipping, healthcare, fertilisers and connectivity will be priority themes, as these areas support long-term trade growth. Better shipping routes and logistics are seen as vital, especially with current payment and routing hurdles. Connectivity initiatives are expected to help stabilise supply chains between the two countries.

Goyal listed several sectors that he believes can lift Indian exports to Russia. These include consumer goods, food products, automobiles, tractors, heavy commercial vehicles, smartphones, other electronic devices, industrial components and textiles. Industry representatives at the forum discussed how to scale up production and meet Russian demand in these categories.

Putin visit India economic ties, energy and defence

The Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) said Putin's trip is also about securing long-term supplies in strategic fields. GTRI noted that the visit aims to protect energy flows to India, stabilise defence deliveries and keep two-way trade running smoothly despite strong Western sanctions on Russia.

GTRI founder Ajay Srivastava described the visit as crucial for both governments. "It is a high-stakes working visit shaped by necessity to lock in energy security, stabilise defence supply lines and keep bilateral trade functioning under the weight of Western sanctions," Ajay Srivastava said, underlining the pressure on existing arrangements.

Putin is scheduled to land in New Delhi on Thursday evening and will head straight to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's residence for dinner. A one-on-one discussion is expected to run until about 8.30 PM, after which the Russian President will return to the hotel, ahead of formal summit events and the signing of multiple agreements and MoUs the next day.

Officials believe the presence of a large Russian business delegation shows Moscow's serious economic outreach towards India at this stage. By diversifying trade, updating sectoral frameworks and enhancing people-to-people, mobility, cultural and scientific ties, both sides hope to build a durable economic partnership that can handle future geopolitical and market disruptions.