New Delhi, 30 October (H.S.): An Indian business delegation led by Bency George, Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the International Trade and Delegations Federation (ITDFC), participated in the TIME Business Forum held in Kazan, the capital of the Republic of Tatarstan, Russia, to strengthen India-Russia economic cooperation and explore new avenues for bilateral trade and investment.

In a statement issued on Friday, George said the primary objective of the participation was to advance economic cooperation between India and Russia, explore cross-border trade opportunities and establish stronger connections between Indian and Russian stakeholders.

The delegation comprised several prominent representatives from the business community and public life, including Harish Khurana, a Member of the Delhi Legislative Assembly (NCT Government of Delhi); Subhash Vasudevan of iBus; Abraham Mathew of Chinar Manpower; Rengith Mohan; and other Indian business representatives.

George said the delegation's participation in the business forum in Kazan reflected India's commitment to expanding international trade and economic partnerships. He emphasised the importance of bringing together public representatives, industry leaders and international trade networks to strengthen economic relations between the two countries.

Advancing India-Russia Trade and Economic Cooperation

According to George, during the plenary session, Harish Khurana highlighted the importance of strengthening trade relations between India and Russia. He underscored the need for deeper business engagement, institutional cooperation and sustained dialogue to unlock new opportunities for bilateral economic growth.

Ms. Taliya Minullina, Chief Executive of the Tatarstan Investment Development Agency (TIDA), also addressed the gathering and contributed to discussions on international trade cooperation and the importance of building stronger partnerships among participating stakeholders.

George said the forum provided an important platform to explore avenues for expanding trade, facilitating investments and encouraging direct engagement between businesses and institutions. The discussions also highlighted the significance of international forums in translating shared economic interests into practical opportunities for cooperation.

ITDFC Leadership Reaffirms Commitment to Global Partnerships

Commenting on the engagement, Syed Arish Hussain, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of ITDFC, reiterated the organisation's commitment to strengthening India's global trade partnerships and advancing the vision of Viksit Bharat.

He said the vision of Viksit Bharat is anchored in innovation, inclusive growth, global partnerships and India's enhanced participation in the international economy.

Focus on Kerala-Tatarstan Regional Partnership

A key aspect of the engagement was the exploration of opportunities for economic cooperation between Kerala and the Republic of Tatarstan.

The discussions highlighted Kerala's business strengths, trade potential and investment opportunities. The initiative aimed to identify avenues for connecting enterprises in Kerala and Tatarstan, fostering commercial partnerships and developing mutually beneficial collaborations.

Such regional partnerships can further reinforce the broader economic relationship between India and Russia. They also provide businesses with opportunities to explore new markets, establish institutional connections and identify areas of cooperation in specific sectors.

From Dialogue to Business Opportunities

In addition to the main deliberations, the Indian delegation participated in business-to-business (B2B) meetings, professional exchanges, visits and institutional engagements.

These activities facilitated direct interactions with stakeholders, enabled the exploration of potential business partnerships and helped identify new areas for future collaboration.

The delegation's participation underscored a key objective of trade diplomacy: establishing meaningful connections among businesses, institutions and public representatives that can pave the way for sustained commercial engagement in the future.

ITDFC's Commitment to Global Trade Diplomacy

ITDFC's participation in the TIME Business Forum reflects its broader commitment to advancing India's economic engagement with international markets through strategic business delegations, trade diplomacy, institutional partnerships and international networking.

By creating platforms for direct dialogue between Indian businesses and overseas stakeholders, the organisation aims to facilitate market access, encourage investment, promote commercial partnerships and strengthen long-term economic relationships.

The organisation continues to explore opportunities for international collaboration that can connect Indian enterprises with emerging markets and expand their participation in the global business environment.

## Upcoming International Business Engagements

In the coming months, ITDFC is expected to lead business delegations to Poland and South Africa. Depending on the relevant programmes and arrangements, the organisation is also likely to participate in the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

These proposed engagements aim to expand international trade partnerships, promote investment opportunities, strengthen business-to-business relationships and advance India's participation in the global economy through strategic trade diplomacy.

Through these planned initiatives, ITDFC seeks to broaden its international outreach and create additional opportunities for Indian businesses to connect with global markets, explore new partnerships and develop mutually beneficial commercial relationships.

The engagement in Kazan marks another step towards fulfilling ITDFC's broader mission of connecting Indian businesses with international opportunities and promoting a partnership-driven approach to global trade.

Through strategic delegations, institutional cooperation and business diplomacy, ITDFC remains committed to building bridges between markets, facilitating investment opportunities and strengthening India's economic partnerships across the world.

Name and factual verification: The organisation's official name is International Trade & Delegation Federation of Chambers (ITDFC). The spellings Bency George, Harish Khurana and Taliya Minullina are consistent with the available organisational, Delhi Assembly and Tatarstan government references. The forum's official website identifies the 2026 event as the TIME Business Forum, held in Kazan on October 15–16.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar