KAZAN, October 16. /TASS/. Indian specialists are in high demand in Tatarstan for the construction, light industry, and service sectors, including hospitality and catering, Elmira Zaripova, Minister of Labor, Employment and Social Protection of Tatarstan, told TASS on the sidelines of the 2nd Russia-India Business Forum TIME in Kazan.

Earlier Zaripova reported that Tatarstan received a quota to bring in over 3,000 Indian nationals in 2026. This marks a fivefold increase from 2025, when the republic issued over 600 work permits to Indian citizens.

"India is our second most significant partner for recruiting specialists to Russia under the quota system," Zaripova said. "Tatarstan is working closely [in this area]. We are primarily interested in Indian specialists for construction, seasonal agricultural work, and light industry. We also have many specialists in the service sector--namely, hospitality and restaurants."

She noted that the republic's approved quota for India stands at roughly 3,000 slots, with about 17 employers recruiting specialists from the country. "This applies, first and foremost, to areas where we cannot source specialists from the domestic labor market," the minister explained.

The 2nd Russia-India Business Forum TIME: Tatarstan-India. Mutual Efficiency is taking place from October 14 to 17 in Kazan. TASS is the general media partner of the event.