Russia willing to offer expertise in IPI gas pipeline

New Delhi, Mar 17: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today (Mar 17, 2006) expressed India's willingness to involve Russian expertise in the multi-billion Dollar Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) Gas Pipeline project while Moscow said it would welcome if its suggestion was sought.

"India is desperately short of hydro-carbon resources. We are interested in biletral and tri-lateral arrangements for filling the energy gap", the Prime Minister said at a joint press conference alongwith Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov after their nearly 90-minute talks.

In that context, the Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline was important and Russia has a a great expertise.

"I do hope ways and means can be found for involving Russian expertise", he added.

The Russian Prime Minister, while describing cooperation between his country and India as 'promising', said, "if there is any suggestion, we will welcome it".

UNI