Kolkata, August 31, 2026 – Calling for stronger economic engagement between India and Russia, Arunita Phukan Yadav, Executive Director of the North East Zonal Office of the Tea Board of India, has emphasised the need to address logistical, regulatory and certification-related challenges to expand India’s tea exports to the Russian market.

Addressing the SAMPARK – India-Russia Bilateral Conclave in Kolkata, Yadav said the two countries share a longstanding relationship based on mutual trust and strong people-to-people connections, but the changing global trade environment requires both sides to develop new mechanisms to facilitate commerce.

“India and Russia have a traditional and time-tested relationship, with a strong connect between the people of the two countries. However, the business environment has changed considerably, and we now need to look at how this relationship can be strengthened from the perspective of trade and commerce,” she said.

Speaking about the tea sector, Yadav said Indian exporters have significant potential to increase their presence in the Russian market, but several practical impediments need to be addressed. Difficulties in sending tea samples, shipping constraints, insurance costs and compliance with certification and regulatory requirements continue to affect exporters.

“One of the major issues is the difficulty in sending samples to Russia. Samples are extremely important in the tea business because buyers need to assess the quality before placing orders. However, logistical and procedural constraints have made this process increasingly difficult,” she said.

Yadav said changes in shipping routes and the availability of shipping lines have also affected the movement of commercial consignments. “Shipping has become a major constraint. Changes in shipping routes and the availability of shipping lines have impacted the movement of consignments and made it difficult for Indian exporters to maintain regular supplies to the Russian market,” she said.

She stressed that the challenges need to be addressed through greater institutional coordination between Indian exporters, the Tea Board and their Russian counterparts.

“We need regular technical interactions between Indian exporters and the Russian authorities and industry. Such interactions can help us understand the exact requirements, address certification-related issues and ensure that exporters can comply with regulations without unnecessary delays,” Yadav said.

Highlighting the importance of certification and testing requirements, she said greater clarity and streamlined procedures would particularly help small and medium-sized exporters seeking to enter or expand their presence in the Russian market.

“Certification is extremely important. If the volume of trade is to increase substantially, we need a system where the requirements are clearly understood by exporters on both sides. Regular dialogue can help remove many of these technical barriers,” she said.

Yadav also underlined the importance of improving transport connectivity between India and Russia and exploring alternative routes to make the movement of goods more efficient. She said the International North-South Transport Corridor could provide an important avenue for strengthening bilateral trade.

“The International North-South Transport Corridor can become an important route for strengthening trade between India and Russia. If connectivity improves and the movement of goods becomes faster and more predictable, it can significantly benefit exporters,” she said.

According to Yadav, improving bilateral trade requires a comprehensive approach encompassing logistics, certification, customs procedures, insurance, payment mechanisms and market access.

“We have to look at the entire trade ecosystem. Logistics, certification, customs procedures, insurance, payment mechanisms and market access all have to work together. Unless these issues are addressed comprehensively, simply increasing production will not be enough,” she said.

She also called for greater business-to-business engagement, saying direct interaction between Indian exporters and Russian buyers could help build confidence, improve market understanding and create sustainable commercial partnerships.

“Trade does not happen only through government-to-government engagement. Exporters, buyers, industry associations and institutions need to meet regularly and understand each other’s requirements,” Yadav said.

She emphasised that greater participation in trade fairs, business delegations and buyer-seller meets could help strengthen commercial linkages and provide Indian tea exporters with a better understanding of opportunities in the Russian market.

Yadav said the longstanding trust between India and Russia remains a major strength and should be translated into deeper economic engagement.

“The trust between India and Russia is deep-rooted. That is a major advantage for us. We should build on this existing trust and translate it into stronger economic and commercial engagement,” she said.

Calling for a long-term mechanism to address trade-related challenges, Yadav said sustained institutional dialogue would be essential to creating a more predictable environment for exporters.

“India and Russia have a long-standing partnership, and our trade mechanisms should reflect that stability and continuity. If we can address issues relating to logistics, certification, shipping and market access, there is significant potential to increase exports,” she said.

She added that the existing foundation of mutual trust, coupled with improved connectivity and stronger institutional cooperation, could help India and Russia unlock new opportunities in the tea sector and further deepen their broader economic partnership.