Chennai-Vladivostok maritime corridor expansion backed by ex-envoy

Former Indian Ambassador to Russia, Ajai Malhotra, has expressed support for expanding the Chennai-Vladivostok maritime corridor into a broader connectivity network. He suggests the corridor should serve as a southern entry point for a larger maritime system that extends through the Bering Strait and the Northern Sea Route to Northern Europe and Rotterdam.

Malhotra noted that while a Mumbai-Vladivostok corridor attempted in 1993 failed due to insufficient trade volume, current conditions present a significant opportunity for cost reduction and expanded trade. He highlighted that China has already begun utilizing the Northern Sea Route for container shipping, including a weekly service between Ningbo and Felixstowe in the UK. Malhotra also suggested that involving Japan and Northern European nations could further enhance the network's potential.