The Development of the Caspian Cluster: Astrakhan and Gujarat Focus on Joint Projects and Investments

Online negotiations were held at the Astrakhan Chamber of Commerce and Industry between representatives of the authorities, the business circles of the region, and the Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Republic of India. The parties discussed issues of trade and economic cooperation, including the interaction in the field of special economic zones.

 The event was attended by Vladimir Golovkov, the Minister of External Relations of the Astrakhan Region, Stanislav Sinchenko, President of the Astrakhan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Alexander Kim, Director General of SEZ Lotus JSC, and Irina Bocharnikova, Head of the Investor’s Division of the Management Company of the Caspian Cluster.

 Among the Indian partners, the discussion involved Anil Jain, Chairman of the International Trade Committee of the GCCI, Keyur Sampat, Managing Director of the Industrial Extension Bureau, as well as representatives of the Chamber’s member organizations.

 The meeting participants reviewed prospects and opportunities for expanding bilateral cooperation between Indian and Russian businesses, as well as ways to attract Indian investments to the development of the Caspian Cluster of SEZs.

 Vladimir Golovkov, the Minister of External Relations of the Astrakhan Region, emphasized the importance of partnership with Gujarat and recalled that in 2021 the Astrakhan Chamber of Commerce and Industry signed a memorandum of understanding with Indian partners.

 “We invite the business circles of the State of Gujarat to make use of our region’s transit capabilities for delivering goods to Russia and in the opposite direction. We are also interested in attracting Indian investment to our special economic zones – the Port SEZ and the Industrial-Production SEZ Lotus. Shipbuilding could become an important area of cooperation,” the Minister said.

During the meeting, the investment and logistics potential of the special economic zones of the Caspian Cluster, which are actively developing within the framework of the International North-South Transport Corridor, was presented to the Indian colleagues.

 One of the tenants of the Port SEZ – Astra LLC – plans to introduce an innovative solution for the Caspian Region: the creation of an offshore transshipment complex at the roadstead of the Olya Seaport. The technology is based on adaptive two-stage logistics: grain is delivered via the Volga-Caspian Sea Shipping Canal on shallow-draft vessels and then transshipped at a deep-water roadstead using the ship-to-ship method onto large seagoing vessels until fully loaded. This approach makes it possible to solve the problem of “dead freight,” minimize vessel idle time, and save on port charges while significantly improving transportation efficiency, allowing for optimized logistics costs.

 In addition, Astra LLC is implementing a project for the construction of a refrigerated terminal with a total area of 6 thousand square meters for handling perishable cargo. The complex will be equipped with modern refrigeration equipment, loading and unloading lines, as well as facilities for packaging, processing, and freezing agricultural products. This will ensure high-quality storage and transportation of vegetables, fruits, and other goods with limited shelf life.

 Anil Jain, Chairman of the International Trade Committee of the Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry, noted that the Astrakhan Region is a key trade and logistics hub of the International North-South Transport Corridor. The foreign partners also expressed interest in participating in the development of a shipbuilding cluster.

 “We would like to visit your region on a business mission to explore your capabilities in logistics and shipbuilding on site and hold negotiations with Astrakhan entrepreneurs,” he said.

The tenants of Special Economic Zone Lotus – JSC KIT Shipbuilding Lotos, Lotos Shipyard JSC, and TEVEX Astrakhan LLC – are implementing projects in shipbuilding, as well as in the production of marine engines and components.

 Summing up the meeting, Alexander Kim, Director General of SEZ Lotus JSC, stated that the Caspian Cluster plans to establish a full-cycle domestic production of river-sea class vessels, auxiliary and offshore fleet, which will further strengthen cooperation with foreign partners:

 “We are interested in developing cooperation with Indian investors and are ready to provide them with all the necessary support for the implementation of high-tech projects on the territories of our special economic zones.”