Great opportunity for Indian Exports to be increased in Russia

Great opportunity for Indian Exports to be increased in Russia

Indian exports is lower than its imports from Russia. Russia, a timely tested friend, but Russian markets surprise us for not buying many Indian goods and services in large quantities.

Ukraine crisis has lead President Putin to ban imports from European Union Countries, USA and Australia. As a result shortage of consumers goods started in Russia. Rubble started falling. If scarcity and price rise of fresh vegetables and fruits started within one month of the import ban, then what will happen if the ban continues? It is the time when one of the two eagles (State symbol of Russia) look towards India for full filling their demands of goods and services.

There is a great opportunity for India and Gujarat to increase exports of Milk and milk products, fresh vegetables and fruits (potatoes, onions, cucumbers, tomatos, cabbages, papaya, bananas, etc), eggs and egg powder, tea, cigarettes, drugs, rice etc.

Quality clearance will be a major issue to be addressed. Due to Indian climate condition, farmers do use pesticides and insecticides to grow fruits and vegetables. In scarcity time, Russia needs to be convinced for relaxing some quality standards. Cost is at their advantage. For example, they pay 600 rubles for 1 kg papaya, while the price in India is only 12 Rubles.

Timely actions required for exports promotion of Indian goods and services in Russia. Ukraine crisis is an opportunity for India's exports promotion in Russia.

Regards,
Punamchand
5 September 2014

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Out of the World in St Petersburg

Out of the World in St Petersburg

It took 6 hrs to reach St. Petersburg from Tallinn, in Go Rail. The passport was stamped at Narva (border of Estonia) for disembarkment and at Russian border of for embarkment smoothly. The lady TTE did the job. Here in this part of the world, Railway TTE are mostly females and one each per coach.

Everything written in Russian and mostly people speak Russian, therefore communication and understanding the locations are big problem here.

When I moved out of the Vitebsky Railway station, it was raining. I thought to walk to the hotel but with luggage and rain shower, I had to opt for a taxi. The driver asked for 20 euro but finally settled in 10. Indian tricks of bargaining work here.

After dumping the luggage in Ibis Hotel, we moved to the city in search of Nevesky Prospekt. We walked upto the canal bridge of 4 horses and took a boat ride of one hour paying 600 Rl/head to see the spectacular buildings and architectures built by Peter the Great. Though the commentary was in Russian but the metalic colour water of River Neva; iron river bridge; and spectacular buildings Peter and Paul fortress, Winter Palace (Hermitage); cruser avrona, etc were presenting the great history of Russia.

Then we took a long walk on the Nevesky Pr nearly 10 kms, and enjoyed external look of Hermitage Museum, Alexander column, Kazan Cathedral and other buildings. One see singers and painters on footpath displaying their art. In few minutes, your pencil sketch is in your hand paying 200 Rl. Kushor Kumar must have learnt many para para pa from these singers.

The street Nevesky Pr is full of people, the locals and tourists in the evening. Beautiful girls welcome guests outside the hotel. Girls are many, more than boys. See many of them smoking cigarettes. Age 12 to death, "bhog" is their main life. They need vodaka, food, cigarette and man. The younger generation started picking up English. If you wish to ask, you may prefer younger generation.

After a long tiring walk we enjoyed veg burger with pepsi, took a small round of a big mall and went to bed for a deep sound sleep.

Punamchand
St Petersburg
30 August 2014

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Youths feel ashamed of living with parents

Youths feel ashamed of living with parents

People love relations. Females are more than men, therefore men are in great demand. Marriage life get disturbed to many as half the couples change their partners. Men feel to fly free after 40.

They love their parents but live in divided family. Once a youth become adult he/she lives separately from parents. He/she do borrow money from parents to take house. Youths feel ashamed to live with parents as it is considered incompetency of handling once own affairs!

Children don't bother about their parents till they work and sustain on their own. Govt gives social security pension of approx 369 euro per month to the aged and retired.

In last days, son/daughter do take care of their parents. They keep them in old aged homes if afford the cost. Mostly old aged homes are preferred in case of mental illness.

Mostly a middle class society, living with basic necessary comforts.

Punamchand
Tallinn
29 August 2014

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Free Post Graduate Education in Estonia

Free Post Graduate Education in Estonia

"Discover Your Inner Einstein".

Walled by prisoners but spread by Students Innovations, the MECTORY (Modern Estonian Knowledge Transfer Organisation for you) is unique study centre started under the Tallinn Technical University. It gives freedom to the participants to discover his/her inner Einstein. International students and delegates from countries Japan, China, India, Australia, etc come here and learn innovative techniques. A small but equipped centre is picking up its popularity.

The Centre has started a Post Graduation programme (MSc) in E-Governance and Technology and Studies with 50 seats, free of cost for first two years. It gives students broad knowledge about the meetings of a modern State- the transition into e-Governance, its management and development. Graduate can be future e-Government technologist, architects, developers and analysts.

Foreigners/Indian students can apply before 1 May every year. The academy provides dormitory accommodation at 120 euro/month. Transport for students is free. Food may cost 100-300 euro depending upon one cooks or eats in restaurants. Students are given ID which is residence cum work permit. No restrictions on working hours. Students can work as many as hours he/she wishes provided don't bunk classes.

As our group is in departure mode, a farewell dinner was arranged at Hotel Villa Marry. The drive from Hotel Meriton to Hotel Villa Marry by small cabs and driving through the new city and coastal line under the beautiful colours of setting Sun and sharabi songs from the seasoned and sweet voice of Shri Vineet Pandey made the short journey memorable. How come, Mirza Galib and all these people found out so many positive arguments in favour of drinking "sharab", thinking "shabab" and eating "kabab"!

Many of us were going mad taking photos of the the Hotel, its view on the shore of Baltic Sea in the photography time, comparing it with Goa. Partho didn't miss clicking beauty of Estonia.

The man of the day was Sanjeev Jha, as the group favourite Ms. Annela gave the most time of the day to him.

The Ambassador of Estonia to India, Viljar Luby delighted the dinner with his present and speech saying there are 1000 Indians behind 1 Estonian. His praise for India on its Marketing Skill and Scaling up was noteworthy.

The dinner was rich as usual with Shampain, starter (prones, brinjal, vegetables), main course (fish, chicken, vegetables), white and red wines, dessert (fried banana with ice cream and black coffee). Over eaten still dreaming not to miss Old Hansa on Thursday night to have medieval time dinner with honey beer !!!

Enjoyed Estonia, the country of patriotism and leader in ICT.

Regards,
Punamchand
Tallinn 27 August 2014

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In the Streets of Tallinn

In the Streets of Tallinn

Weather suddenly changed here for last two days. It seems Autumn started, a month early than normal schedule.

Old Tallinn town is a world heritage site. You see the fortress, St. Nicholas church, town hall, parliament, PM office, cabinet building (e-cabinet, ministers carry ipad, not papers), restorants, souvenir shops, pubs, few night clubs, and tourists from all around the world in the street of Tallinn. Children always enjoy the soap water balloons in the city centre. The European style buildings, cobblestones pavered streets feels you with joy of walking through 15th century, the medieval time.

You may shop Amber (baltik special, the pine tree forests seasoned in sea for centuries turned Amber) ornaments, decoration articles at expensive rates. One can buy earings or rings paying 15-40 euro. For buying Necklace and bracelet, you need more courage to spend euro without calculating rupee value.

After street to street walk, if feeling hungry, go to Old Hansa. You are inn to a place of medieval time. The interior, walls, paintings, furniture, candle lights, beautiful and handsome waiters and waitresses dressed and named of 15th century, etc, a real feel of life of 15th century. Hang on, the food, drinks, jugs, glasses, plates, all presented in medieval form. The water was not potable in 15th century therefore people including children used to drink beer. You can start your dinner will dark beer with honey or with sineman. The tea tottlers tastes it like coco cola. Grilled or smoked salmon with vegetables and desert of apple pie give you a complete feel of medieval tastes. Mushroom soups, hot vegetables with barley, bread and cottage butter will keep the vegetarians happy.

Those interested in night life can peep in paying 10-20 euro and tips to the pole dancers as progressed. If miser in giving tips, the girl will show you the door out, as they dance for money. Be careful, bouncers are there to guard the girls!!!

Punamchand
Tallinn
27 August 2014

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Internet Voting in Estonia

Internet Voting in Estonia

Estonia became the first country in the world offered Internet voting in a nation wide election in 2005.

I voting allows voter to cast their ballots from any internet connected computer at their convenience from anywhere in the world.

They have conducted 6 elections so far. I voting percentage was 1.5% in 2005, has gone up to 24.3% in the parliamentary elections in 2014.

A voter can vote any number of time till the closing time. The last vote casted will be the final vote. To avoid masters influence over workers of spouse pressure over husband, the voter has been given freedom to recast his vote from influence free area!!!

A voter has to pass through two stages authentication before voting; ID and digital signature.

They have some checking modules to give answers to politicians regarding frauds in voting.

One can think that voters can be bribed to change his vote, but a party can't influence many in the game.

Or can think of a party collecting IDs and vote on behalf of voters. But this is also not possible because voter will not share his identify password and digital signature with others as the same is used for banking and other services. For supporting proxy voting, he won't put his finance on risk.

The e-world is thinking to make the administration paper less with an objective to reduce burden of bureaucracy over the people. After all the government is for the people.

Regards,
Punamchand
Tallinn
26 August 2014

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Dum dum diga diga, Riga nahi dekha to kuchh nahi dekha

Dum dum diga diga, Riga nahi dekha to kuchh nahi dekha.

Located on Daugava river, populated by 0.8 million people, Riga, the singing and dancing capital city of Letvia is the Paris of Northern Europe. People love singing and dancing like us. There are two days in June, when whole city and country sing and dance with joy.

It has great ancient history of architecture and culture. Before independence, it was ruled by Germans, Polish, Sweden and Russians. The spectacular buildings carry the architecture of Germans, Sweden, Russians and Letvian. The freedom street was named Lenin street and Adolf Hitler street in past describe occupation and autocracy of Russian and German empires.

Letvia has ancient history and aryan connections as its language has many Samskrit words. Letvian language is part of Indo-European language group. The capital city Riga may be carrying name from Rigveda.

In 12th century as part of crusade, a Bishop crucified them to Christianity. Before that they were worshipping Gods and Godesses the way we do. Majority people are luthrans protestants. There are Russians, Jews and jipsees. They live in poor colonies of Riga east. Russians are orthodox follow Catholic.

Shuttle buses and trams are major mode of transport.

Town hall square and Freedom monument are the major tourist spots. One can see museum, churches, freedom monument, opera, railway station, central market, ferry terminal, parks and gardens, iron bridge over river Daugava, new building of American library, etc.

People are friendly. Baggers and pick pocketers do exist. The restorants serve tasty food and drinks at reasonable price.

It was a fast track tour to Riga today. We started at 7.30 AM from Tallinn and reach Riga at 12.30 PM after a short break at inter country border at Kantinn. As the driver could drive only for 12 hours and if there is break of 3 hrs can further drive 2 hrs, we had a chance to see the city in 4 hrs. We took Riga Sightseeing bus paying 10 euro/head, has one hour tour with English commentary; walked around the streets and enjoyed the trip. We missed cruise ride and train travel to a nearby old town.

It was a full feel of European city, joyful in the company of our driver Thomas, who narrated us many stories of independence struggle of these countries. Europe is still divided on religion. The protestants and orthodox don't match each other. The world war II grouping of countries was also on same line. The small countries departed from Soviet Union are hoping support if European Union and USA to maintain their independence against the reunion pressure of Russia. They do worry.

If get a chance, miss everything but don't miss visiting the Singing and Dancing city Riga, the Paris of Northern Europe.

Punamchand
Riga, 24 August 2014

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