VLADIVOSTOK. March 29 (Interfax) - Russia and India are exploring the possible opening of a trans-Arctic container line and construction of processing facilities along the Northern Sea Route, Russian Minister for Development of the Far East and the Arctic Alexei Chekunov said during a working visit to India.
According to the ministry, a meeting on Tuesday between the Russian delegation and Indian Minister of Ports, Shipping and Motorways Sarbananda Sonowal addressed the use of the Northern Sea Route for reliable and safe cargo transportation.
The sides "discussed the creation of an alternate way to deliver cargo from India to Europe, not by the southern or western routes, but by the eastern route, via the Northern Sea Route, with the use of Russian and Indian port capacities. It was stressed that the cost of delivering a container from Vladivostok to India was a third smaller than the cost of a container delivery from Moscow," the ministry quoted Chekunov as saying.
A meeting with Indian Economic Relations Secretary Dammu Ravi addressed social affairs, the ministry said. The sides discussed the proposals to launch joint education programs and to open a university campus in the Far East focusing on healthcare, IT and engineering.