Russia and Patanjali Group Ink Landmark MoU for Health, Wellness, and Cultural Exchange

In a significant stride towards strengthening bilateral ties, the Russian government and India's Patanjali Group formalized a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Saturday, December 6, 2025. The signing ceremony took place at The Leela Palace in New Delhi, marking a new chapter in cooperation across health, wellness, and cultural domains.

The agreement was signed by Swami Ramdev on behalf of Patanjali Yogpeeth and Sergey Cheremin, who serves as the Chairman of the Indo-Russia Business Council and Minister of Commerce of Russia. This collaboration aims to expand Patanjali's wellness services and promote traditional Indian sciences within the Russian Federation.

Expanding Wellness and Traditional Indian Sciences

A primary objective of the MoU is to significantly expand Patanjali's wellness services, including yoga training and Ayurvedic practices, across Russia. This initiative is set to position Russia as a key entry point for Patanjali's global outreach in holistic wellness. The partnership also encompasses the promotion of health tourism, with plans to establish specialized Ayurveda centers, clinics, and wellness retreats in Russia.

Sergey Cheremin expressed the Russian government's strong commitment, stating that 'By adopting Patanjali's yoga, Ayurveda, and naturopathy, we aim to transform the lifestyle of the people of Russia and make them healthier and disease-free.'

Bilateral Exchange and Collaborative Research

The MoU outlines several areas of mutual benefit, including the facilitation of bilateral trade in herbal products and the cross-promotion of leading Indian and Russian brands. Furthermore, the agreement emphasizes the exchange of skilled human resources, with Patanjali committing to provide trained 'Yogis' and professionals to support Russian institutions. This aligns with Patanjali's role as a private partner in India's Prime Minister's Skill Development Scheme, which has certified over 200,000 individuals.

Joint research initiatives are also a cornerstone of this partnership, focusing on advanced wellness techniques such as:

• Reversing aging and enhancing longevity
• Early detection of serious illnesses

Cultural Diplomacy and Historical Context

Beyond health and commerce, a significant aspect of the MoU is the sharing of India's spiritual knowledge, culture, yoga, Ayurveda, and invaluable heritage with the people of Russia. Swami Ramdev highlighted this, stating that 'all spiritual content, Indian heritage content, our knowledge systems and Sanatan wisdom will now be provided to Russia.' An additional MoU was signed with Big Asia Media Group to broadcast Indian yoga, spiritual, and cultural content to Russian audiences, creating a 'powerful media bridge' between the nations.

Russia has a historical interest in Ayurveda, which gained prominence after the Chernobyl disaster in 1989, leading to its gradual integration into the Russian healthcare system. This existing appreciation for traditional Indian medicine provides a fertile ground for the current collaboration.