Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov told the forum that the Indian Koodankulam Nuclear Power Station's first unit, which is being constructed by the Russian Atomstroyexport, will be commissioned before the end of 2011. The second unit will be put on stream six months later, he said.

Ivanov noted that the talks on the construction of the station's third and fourth units are ongoing. He stressed that India is the main customer for Russian equipment and technologies in the civilian nuclear power industry. The deputy prime minister also said that Russia expects India to become its lead partner in the commercial use of Russia's Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS).

Moreover, Ivanov noted that Russian-Indian trade and economic ties are growing stronger. The bilateral trade turnover continues to expand, he said, while cooperation is becoming increasingly multifaceted.