A typical Russian visa issued
Tens and hundreds of greeting letters and post-cards reach Indian Embassy in Moscow these days. They congratulate Indian ambassador Ajai Malhotra with the Republic Day of India, which is celebrated on the 26th of January. Russian colleagues and many friends of India, who met with the ambassador in Saint-Petersburg, Kaliningrad, Vladivostok, Severodvinsk, Sochi, Archangelsk and other Russian cities, send the ambassador their best wishes.
“Let me first greet our dear Russian friends for their abundant good wishes and extend my warmest congratulations to all members of the Indian community in Russia. The festivities to commemorate the 63rd Republic Day of India will commence in Moscow, St. Petersburg and Vladivostok. There would also be other functions organised by members of the Indian community in different parts of Russia,” said Indian ambassador Ajai Malhotra.
The ambassador shares his view of the Indian-Russian relations at the current stage and underlines the most perspective areas:
“I would describe the present stage of our relations as unique, deep-rooted and time-tested. The year 2011 has witnessed intense high level bilateral dialogue and engagement. Our ties have gained enormous variety, depth and strength over the decades and are poised for even further diversification during 2012. Pillars of our cooperation include defence, space, nuclear energy, S&T, trade and economy, tourism and culture. Russia’s modernization programme and economic reforms and recent WTO membership open up new opportunities. Cooperation in hydrocarbons, science and technology, pharmaceuticals, fertilizers, diamonds, IT, coal, and steel are amongst key focus areas”.
In 2012 Russia and India will take part in several international meetings together and in bilateral events. The ambassador tells us about some of them:
“We await visits to India by the President of Russia in late March 2012 for the BRICS Summit and in end 2012 for the by now traditional, annual India-Russia Summit. On April 13 this year we celebrate 65 years of India-Russia diplomatic ties. To commemorate it, we are drawing up an extensive calendar of academic and cultural activities, seminars, exhibitions and other events. Later this year, we will also host a “Festival of Russia in India” and “Days of Moscow in Delhi”.
India really wants to expand contacts with Russia in a tourism field. Statistics says that amount of Russians going to Goa, Kerala, north and south parts of India for vacation grows steady. Tourism is one of the revenues of the Indian budget. However, in media appeared some information about difficulties faced by women from CIS and Russia travelling in India. We would like to ask Indian ambassador about that.
“No, it is not. India warmly welcomes tourists from Russia, and indeed from all parts of the world, and there is no policy to subject visa applicants from any country to greater scrutiny on the basis of their gender. Visas are issued following standard procedures that are common to most diplomatic missions. Let me add that we had liberalized our visa regime in June last year for Russian tourists visiting India and are now routinely giving six month multiple entry visas to Russian tourists, compared to one month single entry visas earlier. I may also add that we are even thinking on the lines of visa on arrival for Russian nationals,” stated the ambassador Ajai Malhotra.
In the year 2011 Indian Embassy in Moscow has given 24% more tourist visas for Russian citizens than in 2010. The Association of Tour Operators in Russia has also sent the ambassador Ajai Malhotra greetings with the Republic Day of India and congratulates their numerous Indian partners with this holiday. According to the Association, Indian direction remains one of the most popular among Russian tourists.
Source The Voice of Russia
More Russian visas available to Indians
A typical Russian visa issued
Tens and hundreds of greeting letters and post-cards reach Indian Embassy in Moscow these days. They congratulate Indian ambassador Ajai Malhotra with the Republic Day of India, which is celebrated on the 26th of January. Russian colleagues and many friends of India, who met with the ambassador in Saint-Petersburg, Kaliningrad, Vladivostok, Severodvinsk, Sochi, Archangelsk and other Russian cities, send the ambassador their best wishes.
“Let me first greet our dear Russian friends for their abundant good wishes and extend my warmest congratulations to all members of the Indian community in Russia. The festivities to commemorate the 63rd Republic Day of India will commence in Moscow, St. Petersburg and Vladivostok. There would also be other functions organised by members of the Indian community in different parts of Russia,” said Indian ambassador Ajai Malhotra.
The ambassador shares his view of the Indian-Russian relations at the current stage and underlines the most perspective areas:
“I would describe the present stage of our relations as unique, deep-rooted and time-tested. The year 2011 has witnessed intense high level bilateral dialogue and engagement. Our ties have gained enormous variety, depth and strength over the decades and are poised for even further diversification during 2012. Pillars of our cooperation include defence, space, nuclear energy, S&T, trade and economy, tourism and culture. Russia’s modernization programme and economic reforms and recent WTO membership open up new opportunities. Cooperation in hydrocarbons, science and technology, pharmaceuticals, fertilizers, diamonds, IT, coal, and steel are amongst key focus areas”.
In 2012 Russia and India will take part in several international meetings together and in bilateral events. The ambassador tells us about some of them:
“We await visits to India by the President of Russia in late March 2012 for the BRICS Summit and in end 2012 for the by now traditional, annual India-Russia Summit. On April 13 this year we celebrate 65 years of India-Russia diplomatic ties. To commemorate it, we are drawing up an extensive calendar of academic and cultural activities, seminars, exhibitions and other events. Later this year, we will also host a “Festival of Russia in India” and “Days of Moscow in Delhi”.
India really wants to expand contacts with Russia in a tourism field. Statistics says that amount of Russians going to Goa, Kerala, north and south parts of India for vacation grows steady. Tourism is one of the revenues of the Indian budget. However, in media appeared some information about difficulties faced by women from CIS and Russia travelling in India. We would like to ask Indian ambassador about that.
“No, it is not. India warmly welcomes tourists from Russia, and indeed from all parts of the world, and there is no policy to subject visa applicants from any country to greater scrutiny on the basis of their gender. Visas are issued following standard procedures that are common to most diplomatic missions. Let me add that we had liberalized our visa regime in June last year for Russian tourists visiting India and are now routinely giving six month multiple entry visas to Russian tourists, compared to one month single entry visas earlier. I may also add that we are even thinking on the lines of visa on arrival for Russian nationals,” stated the ambassador Ajai Malhotra.
In the year 2011 Indian Embassy in Moscow has given 24% more tourist visas for Russian citizens than in 2010. The Association of Tour Operators in Russia has also sent the ambassador Ajai Malhotra greetings with the Republic Day of India and congratulates their numerous Indian partners with this holiday. According to the Association, Indian direction remains one of the most popular among Russian tourists.
Source The Voice of Russia