Top leaders from India’s leading vegetable oil association, the Solvent Extractors’ Association of India (SEA), along with a 16-member delegation, are undertaking a week-long ‘Sunflower Seed Complex Study Tour’ in Russia. Organized in association with the Russian Export Center Group and spearheaded by SEA President Sanjeev Asthana, the delegation aims to explore Russia’s sunflower sector, from fields to factories.
“The tour is designed to study the sunflower complex, gain first-hand insights into production, processing, and exports, and help us build direct ties with Russian farmers, producers, and exporters. This will pave the way for stronger trade relations and future opportunities between India and Russia,” said Asthana.
The delegation, which includes prominent industry figures such as SEA’s Executive Director Dr. B.V. Mehta and Ex-President Sandeep Bajoria, held engaging discussions with over 30 Russian exporters of sunflower oil, soybean oil, and other commodities. Indian embassy representatives in Moscow, Anurag Nayan (Second Secretary) and Anugrah, also assured assistance in streamlining financial arrangements, particularly via the rupee–ruble payment mechanism. “We greatly appreciate the Indian embassy’s commitment and strong support for strengthening trade between the two countries,” said Dr. Mehta.
During the tour, the delegation visited Voronezh, an agricultural hub renowned for its fertile black soil, and met senior executives of EFKO Group, Russia’s largest edible oil company and a leading sunflower oil supplier. EFKO exported nearly 8,00,000 tonnes of sunflower oil last year and expressed keen interest in expanding collaboration with Indian importers. “It’s been a very productive visit. We not only toured sunflower fields but also visited EFKO’s headquarters and R&D facility,” said Bajoria.
The Indian delegation also met top officials of Rusagro Group, a major player in Russia’s food and agriculture sector, along with leaders of other prominent brands, exploring potential business partnerships.
It is noteworthy that India imports 3.5 million tonnes of sunflower oil annually, with Russia supplying 2 million tonnes, highlighting its strategic importance in India’s edible oil market.
With the tour still underway, numerous business opportunities are expected to emerge. From the old adage of ‘Hindi Rusi Bhai Bhai’, it seems the relationship is now evolving into ‘Hindi Rusi Biz Buzz’.
