An ambassador for Vizhinjam project

An ambassador for Vizhinjam project

Friday April 6 2007 08:36 ISTT'PURAM: The State Government's efforts to enlist Russian help forsetting up the deepwater container transshipment hub at Vizhinjamreceived a boost on Thursday with the Russian Ambassador to IndiaVyacheslav I Trubnikov assuring all help for the project.Russian officials will participate in the Vizhinjam ProjectInvestors' Meet that will be organised on April 17 inThiruvananthapuram, Trubnikov told Chief Minister V S Achuthanandanat a meeting here.

In the city for the Russian Cultural Festival, Trubnikov alsopromised to take up the state's request for using part of the `Rupee-Rouble' fund for setting up the Rs 4,350-crore project at Vizhinjam,some 16 km from the city.Trubnikov was accompanied by Russian Consul General for South IndiaVladislav Antonyuk and head of the cultural department of theRussian Embassy Fyoder Rozovskiy. Law Minister M Vijayakumar wasalso present on the occasion.After the Central Government shot down Chinese participation in theVizhinjam project, the State Government had chosen to float freshglobal bids.Rosoboronexports Corporation, the Russian agency through which allits defence deals are conducted, had shown interest in the project.Russian officials had also met Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan inNew Delhi two months ago.Russian President Vladimir Putin, during his January visit to NewDelhi, had announced his nation's readiness to use the `Rupee-Rouble' fund for infrastructure projects in India.

The StateGovernment, on its part, had requested the help of Prime MinisterManmohan Singh and Defence Minister A K Antony for getting Russianaid for the project.Apart from the Russians, heavyweights who have shown interest intaking up the multi-crore project include BPL patriarch T P GNambiar and entrepreneur Rajeev Chandrasekhar.In his meeting with the Chief Minister, the Russian Ambassador alsoevinced his country's interest in investing in the tourism sectorand collaborative projects with the Travancore Titanium Products. Itwas also decided at the meeting to hold discussions on the proposedinvestments shortly.