Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Anand Sharma assured that the two-sided cooperation between India and Russia in trade and other regions will carry on registering strong growth.

During his conference with Sergei Sobyanin, Deputy Prime Minister of Russia and Victor Khrihtenko, Minister of Industry and Trade Russia, Mr. Sharma talked about the strategic bond that exists between the two nations.

The Russian ministers showed keen interest in seeking support from the Indian pharmaceutical companies.

Mr. Sharma informed that Indian firms have potency in the pharmaceutical segment particularly in the generic area.

"Our pharma sector companies are already engaged with Russia and more and more companies are looking forward to having joint ventures with their Russian counterparts", he said.

He further mentioned the ongoing collaboration

In the areas of space, metallurgy and fertilizers and trusted that the increased economic engagements in these zones would further promote two-sided collaboration between India and Russia.

The mutual trade between India and Russia in 2009-10 (Apr-Dec) was of the order of 2188.12 million dollars.

The key items of export by India include drugs, pharmaceuticals & fine chemicals, tea, transport equipments, machinery and instruments, coffee, cotton yarn fabrics, made-ups, manufactures of metals.

The main items of import by India comprise petroleum, crude and products, fertilizers (manufactured), iron & steel, non-ferrous metals, silver, transport equipments, coal, coke, briquettes, synthetic and reclaimed rubber newsprint. (With Input from Agencies)