By Strategic cooperation between India and Korea continues to improve:
Mr Natwar Singh conveyed India’s interest in joining the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) and sought Seoul’s support to help India contribute in this project. The Korean side agreed to consider the request earnestly and consult with other parties to the ITER.
The two sides also discussed the forthcoming East Asia Summit and decided to closely work together to ensure success of this initiative. New Delhi and Seoul agreed to continue their consultations for expanding cooperation in the fight against international terrorism and to work towards early conclusion of the draft Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism.
(…)
The two Asian powers decided to strengthen cooperation through putting in place institutional framework and regular service-to-service exchanges at senior and middle levels to generate confidence between the two sides, regular ship exchanges and conduct of joint exercise as also cooperation in areas like anti-piracy and search and rescue operations, exchange of training delegations, mutual visits to defense establishments and industries connected with defense production.
It wise for Korea to build relations with India which has a growing economy and a surging technology sector that complements Korea’s technological expertise well. To help build economic ties government is making it easier for Indian businessmen to gain Visas to Korea:
South Korea agreed to seriously consider the issuance of visa-on-arrival at South Korean destinations for visiting Indian businessmen, South Korean Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Ban Ki-Moon said Monday.
Addressing a meeting of business leaders organized by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), Ban, who is leading a high-power 10-member official and business delegation from South Korea, said, “One of the most effective ways to augment the vast potential that exists between the two countries from their complementary trade and industrial structures is to speed up efforts to establish institutional framework such as relevant laws, systems and consultations between the two governments.”
India is also interested in the ITER nuclear program probably because India foresees this program as being the way to solve a future energy crisis for India as the country develops and requires more energy. Some of you may remember the bickering between Japan and Korea over this program, that looks like the French will ultimately end up building.
The development of military exchanges between the two countries is also wise. It is helpful to have a strong Asian military power like India to be on your side in case of any future conflict with China over North Korea or Taiwan.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see this relationship further develop in the future.
It is the sad reality. No mistake...
7:53 am on February 18th, 2007 1
The visa stuff reminds me of a funny true story . Excuse me in advance if I go on too long, I hope the payoff is worth it.
I have slight irreguarly on my passport, why is not important. I was travel to Korea from Hong Kong about two weeks after 9/11. Everyone working, passing though, or even in a city with an airport was a little edgy about security. Due to my passport, I got pulled and taken to a waiting room while they over look my records.
I sat along a wall, and opposite me in a far corner was a desk and Korean immigration officer interviewing a Shik (hope I spelt this right), obviously from India. The man was obviously travling on business, and I assume spent quite alot of time already waiting as he was having a very ginger conversation with the Korean immigration officer. The exchange started like this:
Officer: Why are comming to Korea?
Man: As I already told the three other men, I am comming for business.
Officer: What kind of business are you comming for?
Man: I am coming to buy textile machinery.
Officer: Who are you buying the machinery from?
Man: A man by the name of Kim, he is in Daegu. Here is his card [I forget the details, specficaly not imporant, but imporant in that the had hard details]
Officer: How do you know this man?
…(A long detailed exchange on how the two met, where, what they did, even details about Mr. Kim's family were quizzed)….
Officer: How much is this textile machinery?
Man: Each used machine is worth 1.3 million dollars I am buying three for almost 4 million dollars.
Officer: (almost automatical) I don't believe you have the money!
…At this point the man sighs, and rolls his eyes. With out saying a word he reaches into his breifcase and searches a bit…
Man: Here is a letter of credit from my bank in India.
(Now I notice something unique about the LC. This was a prope LC file for Citibank, not some questionable unknown outfit)
Officer: I do not beileve that these are authentic.
….at this point a small verbal spat ensues…
After a while of yelling, there was a compromise. If the man could call up Mr. Kim, and get Mr. Kim to confirm the story and vouch for the man, the man can enter Korea.
With an obvious look of relief. The man reaches over the desk to pick up the phone in the corner. The Korean Immigration Officer slaps it away and commands "No, use the pay phone!" and points to me.
Unknown to me as I was so engrossed in the mini-drama, I was sitting right next to the pay phone in the room the whole time. For what, at this time, was likely a minor annoyance, the Indian fellow with the joy only seen on the face of a man who sees the light at the tunnel confidently strides towards me and the phone.
He looked at the phone, and you can see the sadness in his eyes as all his hopes and dreams melted away before him. In a sense of logic familar to those of us who live here, Korea Telecom (or who ever) decided that the waiting room for the purgatory between the plane and Korea would be a perfectly fine for a credit card type phone. A phone that needs a special credit card that you can only buy ONCE YOU ARE IN KOREA.
Once realized why the man was suddenly so sad, I knew I had something. I reached into my pocket and pulled out an old KT card and gave it to him. He thanked me and proceeded to call. Just then I was ordered out of the room, and was allowed to pass through immigration. I hope that man got to wherever he wanted.
And that is what I think about when you mention express visas for India.