Ambassador Raghavan's interview to local media during his visit to the Republic of Bashkortostan on 1-3 February 2015
Indian Ambassador Pundi Srinivasan Raghavan: the trademark of Bashkortostan is its people Business FM, 03.02.2015
India is a long-standing partner of Russia. Today, cooperation between this country and Bashkortostan is actively developing. Indian Ambassador to Russia, Pundi Srinivasan Raghavan, in an interview with the radio station Business FM Ufa, said that for the Republic the forthcoming SCO and BRICS summits are not only a good chance for economic development, but are also a great opportunity to make allies in the political sphere.
Mr. Ambassador, in your opinion, how will the SCO and BRICS summits affect the development of Bashkortostan?
When such a major international event is held, then namely that place becomes the focus of the world’s attention. Ufa will only benefit from the summits. For instance, when a Prime Minister visits some city, people immediately try to find out more about the place. A lot of information comes through the Media. Journalists come in advance, prepare material and publicise the city. I want to put this experience to good use, to get all the necessary information about the possibilities for economic cooperation in order to improve relations in the spheres of economy and education.
Can the States – the members of the SCO and BRICS – have an impact on the sanctions against Russia? India is opposed to such decisions; will this be declared?
BRICS has repeatedly stated that it does not support the sanctions. I am sure that they will make such statements in Ufa. However, how these statements will be reflected at the international level, how they will affect the course of the sanctions is very difficult to predict. Perhaps, a solution to the problem will have appeared by that time, and there will not be any sanctions, after all there are another 5 months before the BRICS summits.
The question of finding a trademark is now being actively discussed in the Republic. In your opinion, what could be Bashkortostan’s trademark?
The trademark of your Republic is already its friendly people and favourable investment environment. Now what is needed is publications and informative material on this in a wider format.
