In November 1962, Indian diplomat PH Desai officially opened a consulate in the Soviet city of Odessa. This event was significant as it marked one of the few instances where a foreign government established a diplomatic presence outside of Moscow, joining only Poland, Czechoslovakia, and Turkey in this regard. The inauguration was met with public enthusiasm in a city known for its maritime history and wartime struggles. During the ceremony, Desai highlighted the robust maritime connections between the two nations, noting that multiple Indian firms operated regular shipping routes to the port. Furthermore, vessels from the Black Sea Shipping Line were frequent visitors to India. The consulate was strategically vital for New Delhi, as Odessa served as a primary hub for the transit of industrial machinery and equipment essential for India's national development projects at that time.
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