Russian presidential aide Patrushev invites India to consider creating shipbuilding cluster involving Russia in Mumbai, Chennai

MOSCOW. Nov 17 (Interfax) - Russian presidential aide and Russian Maritime Board Chairman Nikolai Patrushev has invited the Indian side at the Russian-Indian consultations in New Delhi to consider establishing shipbuilding and ship repair clusters in Mumbai or Chennai involving Russia.

"It is advisable to consider creating shipbuilding and ship repair clusters with Russia's participation in such important economic areas as Mumbai or Chennai," Patrushev was quoted by the Russian Maritime Board's press service as saying at the Russian-Indian interdepartmental consultations on maritime cooperation.

He also noted the prospect of setting up a joint database of unified shipbuilding projects, which "will allow India to drastically reduce the costs of renovating its fleet."

"We can offer New Delhi interesting initiatives in shipbuilding, including providing current projects or developing new ones for fishing, passenger, and auxiliary vessels. We have an extensive experience in building specialized vessels, for example, ice-class vessels, not to mention icebreakers, where Russia is completely out of competition," Patrushev said.

There are also opportunities for cooperation in "green" shipbuilding, which is one of the top priorities for India in the maritime sector, he said.

Enhancing bilateral cooperation in the civil maritime sector was discussed, with an emphasis on cooperation in shipbuilding, port infrastructure and maritime logistics, at the consultations attended by Patrushev, the press service said.

"The parties focused on the training of ship crews, as well as on scientific and research activities in the ocean exploration," it said.

Patrushev met with Indian National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, Indian National Maritime Security Coordinator Biswajit Dasgupta, and Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways of India Sarbananda Sonowal on Monday, the press service said.