A meeting between Evgeny Grigoriev, Chairman of the Committee for External Relations of St. Petersburg, and a delegation of ambassadors of the Republic of India headed by the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of India to the Russian Federation, Mr. D. B. Venkatesh Varma was held in Smolny.
During the conversation, the Chairman of the Committee for External Relations informed the guests about the development of cooperation between St. Petersburg and India in the field of trade and economic relations, tourism, science, education and culture.
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of India to the Russian Federation D.B. Venkatesh Varma noted the significant role that St. Petersburg plays in the development of relations with India, being the center of power engineering and shipbuilding. Mr. D.V. Venkatesh Varma confirmed his readiness to promote the development of comprehensive twin-town relations between St. Petersburg and the partner city of Mumbai, suggesting, jointly with the Consulate General of the Republic of India in St. Petersburg, to work out the issue of attracting Indian film companies to film films in St. Petersburg and the organization of one of the Bollywood awards ceremonies in St. Petersburg.
During the conversation, the Ambassador of India to Finland, Mrs. Vani Rao, reported that a large number of tourists from India visit the northern countries and many of them would be interested to come to St. Petersburg if they consider the simplified procedure for obtaining Russian visas.
The Chairman of the Committee for External Relations recalled that foreign citizens arriving in St. Petersburg on a ferry from Helsinki can stay in the city for 72 hours without obtaining a Russian visa. In this regard, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of India to the Russian Federation D. B. Venkatesh Varma ordered the Consulate General of India in St. Petersburg to inform the Indian tourism companies about this possibility.