A🧵
Forbes ranks India and Viet Nam as #1 and #2 in corruption in Asia.
Unfortunately or fortunately, I have first-hand experience in doing business in both these countries.
As a background: We have a few million invested in IN; in VN, we have a few hundred.
My $0.02:
1/n
1. If a thing is advertised to get done in 10 days, but you want to get it done in 2, you need to pay $2-5 bribe. If you don't, it will get done in 10 days.
In IN, you need to pay bribe + Govt penalty + GST on the penalty to get anything done after your 10 days. Approx $200
2/n
#2: Paying $20 gift/year/concerned Govt employee gets all your work done without a hitch. In return, they invite me for lunch/dinner, and even invitations to their kid's birthday parties.
In India, even after you pay $100-$300 per transaction, Babus treat you like thrash.
3/n
Note: US govt officially allows its employees to receive $25/vendor/year.
To conclude:
In VN I give a bribe, then have peace in mind and don't have to pay a dime in made-up penalty if I am doing everything legal.
4/n
In IN: I have to go through all humiliations, abuse of Babus, listen to the ridiculous interpretation of laws and pay maximum fines to Govt (for made-up reasons), and then pay the bribe.
A bribe is a bribe. But I will take 10 Viet Nams over 1 India.
5/end.
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In 2015, US State Dept made a policy not to add pages to the existing passports but issue new ones, once the pages of the passport ran out with stamps.
On the morning of a 27-day 13 counties trip, I realized that I only have 1 page free. I panicked
I drove down to the DC State Dept, I explained to the reception desk and got it right through with priority.
Met with the Rep at 10:30am. He asked me to show him my ticket.
Him: Man, you leave tonight.
Me: Yes but I will cancel. It's for tomorrow.
Him: Why?
Me:
2/
Him: Let's do this.
Him: Have you packed your bags (while typing)
Me: Shook my head (horizontally)
Him: Okay. you go home & pack. Come back here at 4:00pm and ask for me. I will try my best to you fly tonight.
Me: Thank you.
Got a call at 1:10pm:
Him: Mr. Nayak, we thought if
3/
Dear OCI/PIO
I understand your emotion & eagerness to help.
DO NOT send relief materials UNTIL 1. Pay up to 160% of the price (excl shipping) in India 2. Have up to 9 documents ready
Expect 3. Every possible harassment from Babus 4. Vultures (Private Cos) to profit from it
Documents that they may ask
Invoice 1. Packing List by bi\ox/pallet(Ask Mfr) 2. PO Copy (Create a Standard Purchase Order) 3. Bill of Lading (BL) (shipping Co will give you) 4. Certificate of Origin (COO) 5. Fumigation Certificate
6. Phytosanitary Certificate (If anything has any wood component, even wood handle) 7. Catalog with Images (Generic Product Photos from their site) 8. Specification of the cargo (Product Manual)
Not sure who to tag but this is policy changes GoI must make NOW:
1. Appoint a capable person as Humanitarian Tzar, single POC for all humanitarian aids
2. Allow foreign scientists to do virus genome sequencing
3. Suspend FCRA License, let foreign NGOs come in to help
1/2
4. Clear all imports (Govt, NGOs, my mousi, your bhai - everyone) within 2 hrs - Customs, ImpEx, HS code & other Govt craps 5. No medical or humanitarian import can be rejected unless they deemed to counterfeit 6. Don’t even think of applying Duty & IGST on foreign donated item