Jaishankar Inaugurates Consulates In Russia’s Kazan, Yekaterinburg: ‘Catalysts For Boosting Ties’

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday inaugurated two new Indian consulates in Russia, calling their opening a “catalyst” that will help push bilateral trade to USD 100 billion by 2030. India has

now added Consulates General in Yekaterinburg and Kazan, expanding its diplomatic footprint beyond St Petersburg and Vladivostok, the two cities that previously hosted Indian consulates, according to the Indian Embassy’s website.

The minister said more than 30,000 Indian students currently study in Russia and noted that around 10,000 of them are located in regions that will now be covered by the new missions. Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko, India’s Ambassador Vinay Kumar, local officials from Kazan and Yekaterinburg, and members of the Indian community attended the opening ceremony.

“This is a very important day in the diplomatic history of India in the Russian Federation,” Jaishankar said, recalling his earlier postings in Moscow. He added that “consistent work has been underway to establish these consulates,” and stressed that India “recognises the support received from the Russian government.”

According to him, the new missions will “not only enhance our diplomatic presence” in Russia but “act as a catalyst” to deepen trade, tourism, and cooperation in economic, scientific, technological, academic and cultural sectors. “The consulates will contribute to our joint efforts in increasing our bilateral trade to USD 100 billion by 2030 as envisaged by the leaders,” he said.

Delighted to inaugurate Consulates General of India in Yekaterinburg and Kazan, alongside DFM Andrey Rudenko, Amb Vinay Kumar and representatives from Sverdlovsk and Tatarstan.

Confident that the establishment of the new Consulates will boost trade, tourism, economic,… https://t.co/uluc9kqm8O pic.twitter.com/oYNy1hSnqq

— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) November 19, 2025

The minister highlighted Yekaterinburg’s role as the “third capital of Russia” and a “gateway to Siberia,” underlining its prominence in heavy engineering, gem cutting, defence manufacturing, metallurgy, nuclear fuel, chemicals and medical equipment. He said the consulate there would help “strengthen technological, scientific, economic and trade collaborations between Indian and Russian industries.”

On Kazan, which hosted the 2024 BRICS Summit attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Jaishankar described it as a major cultural and ethnic hub and a “bridge between Russia and the rest of Asia.” He said the consulate will promote people-to-people ties, including cultural exchanges and ITEC programmes. The city, he noted, is well known for oil production and refining, fertilisers, automobiles, defence manufacturing, pharmaceuticals and electrical equipment.

“I am confident that with the opening of the two new consulates, there will be a further strengthening of India–Russia ties and this will surely mark a new phase in our relationship,” he said. Kazan, the capital of Tatarstan, sits on the Volga and is considered Russia’s gateway to Asia, known for petrochemicals, automobiles, aircraft manufacturing, and scientific and educational institutions.