India To Allow Visa- On- Arrival To Russia

India will soon provide visa- on- arrival facility to business visitors from Russia. The visa-on-arrival facility will be available at eighteen airports.

“India is committed to remove red tapism and provide a single window clearance for the investors,” said Nirmala Sitharaman, Minister of State (Independent Charge) in the Ministry of Commerce & Industry at the eighth session of India-Russia Forum on Trade and Investment.

She further added that the ease in FDI policy in defence and infrastructure is expected to boost investments from Russia, thus enabling interested business delegation to visit India easily, “The recent liberalization in FDI regime in India, including those in defence and Railway sector will create new opportunities for joint ventures by Indian and Russian countries in these areas,” noted Union Minister Sitharaman.

Commerce minister Sitharaman also noted that the government aimed to boosting the manufacturing sector and wanted its contribution to the GDP to rise from 15% to 25%, which would require investments. “ Businessmen from Russia are invited to come with an open mind and clear proposals”, she averred.

It should be noted that the trade between India and Russia is pegged at $6 billion in 2013-14. According to market estimates, 110,000 tourists from Russia visited India in 2012 followed by a 100,000 tourists in 2013-14.