Centre assures support for Kerala-Russia JV

Kochi, Jul 26 (UNI) Assuring full Central support for the proposed Kerala-Russia joint venture to manufacture titanium-based products, Defence Production Secretary, K P Singh today said there was a big demand for these products from various industries.

Welcoming the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by the Kerala Government with the Russian company 'Rosoboronexport' recently, Mr Singh said there was a big demand for titanium-based products from the aviation, space, missile and defence sectors.

''At present, only two countries in the world are controlling technology related to titanium products and we are denied these strategic materials due to restrictions. Even after the ratification of the civilian nuclear agreement with the US, it will take about one to two years for the restrictions to be removed and for India to get access to these materials and technologies,'' he said.

''For this reason, we welcome the proposed Kerala-Russia joint venture. The Centre will give full support to buy the maximum capacity of these products, which are needed by various industries'', Mr singh added.

The proposed joint venture has created a stir in Kerala with the Opposition Congress demanding a judicial inquiry on the ground that the government did not float a global tender before signing the MoU with the Russian company.

UNI