New Delhi, December 6, 2025 — A high-level panel discussion on “People Are the Ultimate Resource: New Opportunities for Labour Migration in the Context of India–Russia Cooperation” was held at Bharat Mandapam, organised by ROSCONGRESS International in collaboration with FICCI. The session brought together senior policymakers, industry leaders, and education experts from both nations to explore emerging workforce and education collaborations.
The panel was moderated by Mikhail Ivanov, Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Secondary Vocational Education, Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RSPP), and Deputy General Director for Government Relations at Rimera. The distinguished panelists included Sergey Cheremin, Minister, Government of Moscow and Head of the Department for External Economic and International Relations; Bijay Sahoo, Group President – Strategic HR and Chairman’s Office, Reliance Industries; Olga Kulikova, Member of the General Council, Business Russia and Business Ambassador of Business Russia in India; Seeta Sharma, Advisor – Skills and Migration, Government of Andhra Pradesh; Jyoti Chandiramani, Director, Symbiosis School of Economics; Ivan Nosov, Chief Manager, Sberbank India Branch; and Elena Vellyaeva, Chief Operating Officer, Intrud.
The discussion strongly highlighted new opportunities for collaboration among Indian and Russian higher education institutions. Speakers emphasised the importance of aligning academic curricula with industry needs through shared curriculum development, identification of learning gaps, outcome-based education reforms, and structured training programs for teachers to meet evolving global workforce demands.
A key focus of the session was the growing need for “Study in Russia” programs and Russian Study Centres in India, to be developed through institutional partnerships. These centres would promote academic exchange, language training, and skill mapping to prepare Indian students and professionals for Russian industry requirements.
The forum underscored that the demand for Indian skilled professionals in Russia is currently very high, particularly in sectors such as construction, manufacturing, logistics, housing, economics, and education. Russia’s shrinking workforce, negative growth trends, and its current reliance on around 3 million migrant workers were identified as major drivers of this demand.
Also, the discussion addressed key challenges faced by Indian professionals working in Russia, with language barriers and extreme weather conditions being the primary concerns. However, it was unanimously acknowledged that Indian migrant professionals are highly disciplined, responsible, and performance-driven, making them extremely valued in the Russian labour market.
Speakers further noted that new strategic opportunities are emerging to strengthen Indo–Russian relations, not just in trade and defence, but also in education, skill development, and workforce mobility. These developments are expected to play a crucial role in shaping long-term economic and professional cooperation between both nations.
The session concluded with a strong call for structured institutional collaboration, policy alignment, and student mobility frameworks to ensure sustainable growth in India–Russia education and labour partnerships.
Moreover, the dialogue marked a significant step forward in shaping the future of India–Russia education and workforce cooperation.
