CHENNAI: Russia is actively working to operationalise the long-anticipated Chennai–Vladivostok maritime corridor, a project it views as strategically vital for deepening trade, logistics and economic engagement with India, particularly South India, said Valery Khodzhaev, Russian Consul General in Chennai, on Thursday.

Addressing reporters in Alwarpet here, Khodzhaev said the proposed sea route, which would link India’s east coast with Russia’s far east, was a highly promising international corridor with strong future potential.

While acknowledging that the process would take time, he underlined that certain progress has already been made and that Moscow remains committed to activating the route. “We’re working to make the Chennai–Vladivostok corridor operational, as Vladivostok is a gateway not just for Russia but for wider regional connectivity,” he added.

The remarks come as the year marks 25 years of the Russia–India strategic partnership, a milestone year that has seen renewed political and economic momentum. Khodzhaev described President Vladimir Putin’s recent visit to India as historic, noting that 29 agreements were signed, giving fresh impetus to bilateral cooperation across sectors.

“A key focus is correcting trade imbalances and expanding cooperation beyond traditional areas. South India, in particular, plays a major role, whether in rail modernisation, energy, technology or industry,” he noted. “Russia plans to step up investments in South India, due to the region’s industrial capacity, skilled workforce and growing technology ecosystem.”

On media and information cooperation, Khodzhaev said that Russian media platforms were emerging as alternatives to dominant Western narratives on global development. He cited a cooperation agreement with Prasar Bharati,, and added: “Russia is always open to collaboration in this space as well.”

Striking an optimistic note on the broader economic outlook, Khodzhaev said India’s robust growth trajectory aligns well with Russia’s stable economy. “Many Indian companies are already engaged with Russia, particularly in pharmaceuticals, agriculture, agri technology, healthcare, shipbuilding and aircraft manufacturing,” he noted. “In civil aviation, we’ve inducted new aircraft, with more than 90% of their components produced by domestic industries. Engines and other critical systems are now being developed locally.”