INNOPROM.India: A Historic Industrial Fair Illuminates Growing India‑Russia Trade Ties

New Delhi buzzed with anticipation on September 9 as the doors of Bharat Mandapam swung open for the very first INNOPROM.India. It isn’t just another trade show; it feels more like a milestone, a tangible sign that India‑Russia economic ties are moving from the sidelines to centre stage.

Russian Ambassador to India, Denis Alipov, opened the event with a warm welcome that was later printed in a special edition of "INNOPROM.India and the 18th BRICS Summit 2026" – a joint publication by the Russian Embassy and the Financial Express. He called the fair “unprecedented in the history of our bilateral economic relations,” and honestly, his words capture the excitement in the air.

The fair is a joint effort of two ministries: Russia’s Ministry of Industry and Trade and India’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry. Together they have gathered more than 200 firms – from heavyweight names like Rostec, Rosatom, Roscosmos, RUSAL and Sber in Moscow, to Indian stalwarts such as SAIL, NMDC, Vedanta and ITC. Even regional players from Andhra Pradesh and the steel‑rich states of Krasnodar, Tatarstan, and Chelyabinsk have set up pavilions.

What makes INNOPROM.India different from a run‑of‑the‑mill expo is the deliberate focus on practical outcomes. The agenda is packed with B2B and B2G matchmaking sessions, designed to pair Russian expertise in areas like additive manufacturing, aerospace and nuclear tech with India’s manufacturing capacity and its abundant critical minerals. There are also round‑tables on cross‑border payments in national currencies, streamlined customs procedures and new transport corridors – all the nitty‑gritty that makes deals actually happen.

High‑level politicians are on the roster, too. Russia’s Minister of Industry and Trade, Anton Alikhanov, and India’s Commerce Minister, Piyush Goyal, will join a plenary that dives deep into localisation, joint‑venture models and the push for technological sovereignty on both sides. As Ambassador Alipov put it, the fair dovetails neatly with India’s “Atmanirbhar Bharat” drive and Russia’s own push for self‑reliance.

Numbers tell a compelling story. Trade between the two nations has surged almost seven‑fold in the last five years, crossing the $63 billion mark in 2025. Both governments have set an ambitious target: $100 billion in bilateral trade by 2030. If the enthusiasm at INNOPROM.India is any indication, that goal feels within reach.

Beyond the contracts and the tech demos, there’s a palpable sense of partnership. Delegates stroll past the National Steel Pavilion, chat with Russian cosmonaut engineers, and sample Indian innovations in AI and data infrastructure. It’s a reminder that today’s trade is as much about ideas as it is about goods.

Ambassador Alipov concluded his address with a simple invitation: “Come, explore, engage, and help shape the next decade of the Russia‑India Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership.” With that, the fair rolls on, promising not just talk but real projects that could reshape the industrial landscape of both countries.