India to open consulates in Russia's Kazan, Yekaterinburg: PM Modi

New Delhi, July 9

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while addressing the Indian community in Moscow on Tuesday said “a decision has been taken to open two new Indian consulates in Kazan and Ekaterinburg”.

At present India has an embassy in Moscow and consulates in St Petersburg and Vladivostok.

The new consulates, Modi said would give further boost to people-to-people ties. He lauded the efforts of the community to nurture and nourish Indian cultural traditions in the country and share its vibrancy with the Russian people.

In his address, Modi thanked the Indian diaspora for the warm welcome and lauded its contribution in enhancing the India-Russia relationship.

Modi said he was greeting them on behalf of 1.4 billion Indians, and noted that his interaction with the community was special, as it was his first address to the Indian diaspora in his third term at Prime Minister.

Modi spoke about the visible transformation that has happened in India in the last ten years.

In his third term, Modi said “it was the objective of the government to become the third largest economy in the world.”

The PM spoke about India’s economic growth which accounted for significant percentage of global growth; its digital and fintech success; its green development achievements; and its impactful socio-economic programs empowering common people.

He underlined that India’s transformative success has happened because of the dedication, commitment and contribution of 1.4 billion Indians, each one of whom today dreams of making India a developed country.

India, he said, through its committed efforts, from tackling climate change to meeting sustainable development goals, was making significant contribution to global prosperity – as a Vishwabandhu, a friend to the world.

He further noted that India’s call for peace, dialogue and diplomacy to resolve global issues had high resonance.