Divisions
Foreign Trade (CIS)
Functions of the Division

All matters relating to India’s trade and economic cooperation with the CIS countries which consist of Russia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Moldova, and Belarus. The major tasks being looked after by FT- CIS Division in enhancing bilateral trade and economic cooperation with CIS countries are as follows:

The major tasks being looked after by FT- CIS Division in enhancing bilateral trade cooperation with CIS countries are as follows:

  • Monitoring of monthly economic reports prepared by the Indian Commercial Wings in these countries.
  • To hold the meeting of Inter-Governmental Commission (IGC), Joint Working group and Sub-Working Group between India and these countries.
  • Nodal Agency to look after the work of International North South Transport Corridor (INSTC) Project.
Officers in the Division
  • Shri Manish Chadha Joint Secretary
  • Shri Ashish Kumar Singh, Under Secretary
  • Smt. Savita Jain, Section Officer
Trade Agreements & Negotiations

The institutional mechanism between DoC and CIS countries is as under:

S.No Name of the partner Country Name of the Institutional Mechanism (Inter–Governmental Commission/Joint Working Groups and Sub-Working Group) and
its composition
Co-Chairperson
1 Azerbaijan Inter-Governmental

Commission

Minister for Commerce and Industry
2 Kyrgyzstan Inter-Governmental Commission Minister for Commerce and Industry
3 Uzbekistan Inter-Governmental Commission Minister for Commerce and Industry
4 Tajikistan Joint Commission Meeting Commerce Secretary
5 Russian Federation Joint Working Group on Trade and Economic Cooperation Commerce Secretary
6 Russian Federation Sub-Working Group on Elimination of Barriers in Trade, Economic and Investment Spheres Joint Secretary
7 Kazakhstan Joint Working Group on Trade and Economic Cooperation Joint Secretary
8 Kazakhstan Joint Working Group to resolve the outstanding tea debt issue Joint Secretary
9 Ukraine Joint Working Group on Trade and Economic Cooperation Joint Secretary
10 Uzbekistan Joint Working Group on Trade and Economic Cooperation Joint Secretary
Trade Promotion Activities

Meetings held under Inter-Governmental Commission (IGC), Joint Working Group and Sub-Working Group between India and CIS Countries: –

  • The 4th Meeting of India-Ukraine Working Group on Trade and Economic Cooperation was held on 2nd April, 2019 in New Delhi.
  • The 11th Session India-Tajikistan Joint Commission Meeting (JCM) was held on 24th – 25th February, 2020 in New Delhi.
  • The 7th Session of India-Kazakhstan Joint Working Group on Trade & Economic Cooperation was held on 10th September, 2020 in video conference mode.
  • The Second Joint Working Group meeting between India-Uzbekistan on Trade and Economic Cooperation was held on 22nd June, 2022 in Uzbekistan.
  • The 13th Session of India-Uzbekistan Inter-Governmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technological Cooperation was held on 28th July, 2022 in New Delhi.
  • The 10th session of India-Kyrgyzstan Inter-Governmental Commission was held on 3rd November, 2022 in VC mode.
  • The 3rd meeting of India-Russia Sub-Working Group on elimination of Barriers in Trade, Economic and Investment Spheres was held on 22nd December, 2022 in VC mode.
  • The 24th session of the India- Russia Working Group was held on 24th March, 2023 on VC mode.
  • The 6th meeting of India-Azerbaijan Inter-Governmental Commission on Trade and Economic and Scientific and Technological cooperation was held on 25th October, 2023 in Baku , Azerbaijan
Major ongoing activities
Trade Agreement between India and Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) members:

EAEU consists of five countries; Russian Federation, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Armenia and Kyrgyzstan. It has been decided to have a Trade Agreement with EAEU and initiate negotiations on Trade in Goods. A meeting was scheduled on 16-18th March, 2020 in Moscow to have initial discussions to set the agenda for the trade negotiations and to finalise the structure of the joint text for the envisaged Trade Agreement. But, this meeting was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A meeting was held on 28th August, 2020 between Commerce Secretary and Mr Andrey Slepnev, Trade Minister, Eurasian Economic Commission to discuss various issues related to the proposed trade negotiations. Then another meeting between Chief Negotiators of both the side was held on 13th October, 2020 to discuss the approaches and agenda for First Round of Negotiations for Trade Agreement in Goods. The Proposal for sharing the wish list with EaEU including finalization of ToR, texts/chapter and other details is under consideration in the DoC.

Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Georgia:

A Joint Feasibility Study (JFS) to assess feasibility of FTA between India and Georgia announced on 11th April, 2017 and completed in August, 2018. The findings of the JFSG report have been accepted by both the sides and on 11th January, 2019, a Protocol was signed jointly for commencing negotiations for FTA. Now, further procedural formalities are being examined.

PTA with Uzbekistan:

A Joint Statement for launching Joint Feasibility Study (JFS) to explore the potential of a PTA between India and Republic of Uzbekistan was signed on 25th September, 2019 in Tashkent. This JFSG Report has been submitted and same is under examination.

Promotional Measures- MDA and MAI Proposals

For the years 2024-25, there were 62 proposal (physical) have been received on MAI portal from different trade bodies and out of which 59 proposals (physical ) were recommended by FT(CIS) Division. For the years 2025-26, there were 59 proposal (physical) have been received on MAI portal from different trade bodies and out of which 52 proposals (physical ) were recommended by FT(CIS) Division.

Trade Statistics of CIS Countries: Value in USD million
S.No. Country / Region 2022-2023 (April, 22-Jan, 2023) 2023-2024(P) (April, 23 – Jan, 2024) % Growth
Exports Imports Total Trade Trd.Bal. Exports Imports Total Trade Trd.Bal. Exports Imports
1. ARMENIA 49.20 65.82 115.03 -16.62 79.87 35.53 115.40 44.34 62.32 -46.02
2. AZERBAIJAN 85.90 497.41 583.31 -411.52 74.80 0.56 75.36 74.24 -12.91 -99.89
3. BELARUS 35.27 59.41 94.68 -24.14 35.95 12.16 48.11 23.80 1.93 -79.54
4. GEORGIA 224.27 163.44 387.71 60.83 170.96 42.08 213.04 128.88 -23.77 -74.25
5. KAZAKHSTAN 384.41 199.62 584.03 184.78 193.52 63.40 256.92 130.12 -49.66 -68.24
6. KYRGHYZSTAN 39.67 3.62 43.28 36.05 35.28 8.78 44.06 26.50 -11.06 142.85
7. MOLDOVA 9.11 3.89 13.01 5.22 10.37 3.94 14.31 6.43 13.82 1.26
8. RUSSIA 2,482.79 35,698.37 38,181.16 -33,215.58 3,430.51 51,103.02 54,533.53 -47,672.51 38.17 43.15
9. TAJIKISTAN 42.76 0.52 43.29 42.24 44.13 0.01 44.13 44.12 3.18 -98.47
10. TURKMENISTAN 78.91 82.94 161.85 -4.03 30.61 74.60 105.21 -43.98 -61.21 -10.06
11. UKRAINE 113.88 520.06 633.94 -406.17 133.60 361.03 494.62 -227.43 17.31 -30.58
12. UZBEKISTAN 237.35 43.36 280.71 194.00 304.67 18.21 322.88 286.46 28.36 -57.99
Total of cis 3,783.53 37,338.48 41,122.01 -33,554.95 4,544.27 51,723.32 56,267.59 -47,179.05 20.11 38.53

Data Source: DGCIS, KolkataDOC-NICData Source: DGCI&S, Kolkata P: Provisional

RTI Related Matters

First Appellate Authority

Shri Manish Chadha Joint Secretary

  • Room No : 423, Vanijya Bhawan, New Delhi
  • Tel : 01123039410
  •  Email : chadha[dot]manish[at]gov[dot]in

CPIO

Shri Ashish Kumar, Singh,

Under Secretary,

WS 3012, Vanijya Bhawan, New Delhi,

Tel : 01123039764

Email : ashish.singh@nic.in