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

Here is what happened.

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

1/

https://twitter.com/SorishaPragyan/status/1487830319201988610

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/

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

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