Moscow: Amid a growing labour shortage in its industrial sectors, Russia is planning to recruit up to one million skilled workers from India by the end of 2025. The move is part of a broader strategy to boost industrial output and meet workforce demands across key regions, including the Ural Mountains, which serve as a hub for heavy and military-industrial production.
Andrey Besedin, Chief of the Ural Chamber of Commerce and Industry, confirmed the development in a statement to the media. He announced that a new Indian Consulate General will soon be opened in Yekaterinburg to streamline labour migration and oversee worker-related matters.
Besedin noted that industries in the Ural region are under pressure to increase productivity, and the shortage of skilled workers is a major obstacle. As part of its workforce strategy, Russia is also exploring labour recruitment from Sri Lanka and North Korea, although procedural challenges persist.
Indian migrant workers have already started arriving in Russia from 2024 to join various industrial operations. According to estimates by Russia’s Ministry of Labour, the country is projected to face a labour deficit of over 3 million workers by 2030.
In response, Russia is actively expanding its international labour recruitment efforts, with India emerging as a key partner in supplying skilled manpower.