India and Russia’s Republic of Tatarstan are exploring joint data center and digital infrastructure projects, with Indian cloud provider Bharat AI Cloud planning to sign a cooperation agreement with the region’s IT Park. The plans emerged at the second Russia-India TIME Business Forum in Kazan on Thursday. A technology hub in India’s southern Telangana state has expressed interest in jointly developing infrastructure in Tatarstan, the Russian region’s deputy minister of digital development, Bulat Gabdrakhmanov, said. The proposed partnership could allow both sides to exchange cloud technologies and expertise. Bharat AI Cloud, which earlier announced plans to open an office in Kazan, is also looking to enter the Russian market. Russia has established data infrastructure providers, while India’s large domestic market offers opportunities for expanding digital services, director of the Chamber for Indo-Russian Technology Collaboration (CIRTC), Subham Sarkar, said at the forum. The discussions build on earlier cooperation between the two sides. At last year’s TIME forum, Tatarstan’s IT Park signed a three-year agreement with CIRTC to promote technology partnerships, investment, and market access. Officials also explored building an artificial intelligence data center with Indian operator CtrlS in October last year. The proposed project remains under consideration, with its progress dependent on electricity costs, market demand, and opportunities to expand in Russia, according to Tatarstan’s Digital Development Ministry.
The latest talks have also brought up the possibility of establishing a so-called data embassy, which would involve hosting data infrastructure abroad under special arrangements intended to protect data sovereignty. Sarkar compared the proposed arrangement to the protections afforded to diplomatic missions. He said the project was technically feasible, although questions of sovereignty and regulation would take time to resolve.
India has explored similar arrangements with other countries. In January, New Delhi and the United Arab Emirates agreed to examine the possibility of establishing digital embassies under mutually recognized sovereignty arrangements. The two countries also discussed cooperation on data centers.The India-Tatarstan discussions extend beyond data infrastructure to healthcare, AI, cybersecurity, and digital public services.Russia could offer Indian partners domestically developed operating systems, office software, email platforms, and messaging services, the Tatarstan Information Technology Center’s deputy director general, Kamil Gazizov, said at the Kazan forum. He also highlighted opportunities for both sides to work together against cybersecurity threats.
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