• Investment World
• eWorld
• Catalyst
• Mentor
• Life
• Canvas
• Praxis
• Urban Pulse
• Brand Quest

Stocks

• Quotes
• SE Diary
• Scoreboard
• Open-End Mutual Fund

Port Info

• Ships in Ports
  
  

Archives

• Yesterday
• Datewise
• Resources

Group Sites

• The Hindu
• Business Line
• The Sportstar
• Frontline
• The Hindu eBooks
• The Hindu Images

Our Bureau

Chennai , Feb. 14

THE Governments of Russia and India are on the verge of closing a negotiation on simplification of visa procedures for businessmen who want to visit Russia, the Russian Ambassador in India, Mr Vyacheslav Trubnikov, said on Friday.

Mr Trubnikov was responding to a point raised by the President of the Southern India Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr R. Veeramani, at a meeting between the Ambassador and members of the chamber.

Mr Veeramani had said that getting a Russian visa was a cumbersome and long-drawn process and requested the ambassador to simplify procedures.

Several members of the Chamber told Business Line that getting a Russian visa was tough. Mr N. Ravi, General Manager-Business Development, Ucal Exports Pvt Ltd, who has lived in Russia for over 20 years, said,"Even if you get a visa here, the authorities sometimes stop you at the airport," he said. He also spoke of corruption — sometimes extortionate claims by policemen — in Russia.

Answering a question, Mr Trubnikov said that red-tapism and mafia-related problems were there "all over the world and in India also." He said that people affected should approach the authorities for redress of their grievances.

Earlier, in his address, Mr Trubnikov stressed the huge potential for cooperation between India and Russia, especially in areas such as power, desalination plants and information technology.

Mr Veeramani, in his welcome address, said that the Russian software market was about $600 million. "I am happy to note that as a result of the Electronic Russia Programme, the IT sector will provide greater opportunities to both of us to collaborate."

Mr Trubnikov recalled that after the Russian President, Mr Vladimir Putin, visited Bangalore in December 2004, he held a meeting of Russian businessmen and academics in the Siberian city of Novosibirsk, where he spoke of his amazing experience in Bangalore and called upon all to work with India in IT.

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page

Stories in this Section
Gadget to test pilot aptitude waiting in the wings

Copyright © 2005, The Hindu Business Line. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu Business Line