Chief Minister Rajasthan today met renowned archaeologist Mikhail Borisovich Piotrovski, who is the Director of the World renowned museum, The Hermitage for the past 26 years, in St. Petersburg today. Infact he succeeded his father who was Director for 26 years himself. The Potrovskis have even a minor planet named after them.

The two exchanged notes on how conservation of cultural heritage is important and both agreed on the need to educate youth on the cultural evolution of civilizations.

Smt Raje shared with Mr. Piotrovski, the long history and traditions of Rajasthan. She briefed him on the Art and Culture & Archaeology & Museum sectors in the state and how the government has taken up of improving display and content in the museums in the state. He appreciated Raje’s vision to transform the state into a ‘living museum’. He said, St. Petersburg echoes the same sentiment. The two discussed at length on possibilities of having exchange visits, capacity building programmes and exhibitions. She invited Director Piotrovski to visit Rajasthan and he said he would do so at the earliest opportunity.

In the afternoon, Smt Raje met Mr. G Poltavchenko, Governor of St Petersburg, in his office. The Governor, while welcoming CM, offered cooperation in the traditional strong fields of energy security, machinery manufacture and engineering industry, as well as in the emerging fields of medical equipment, pharmaceuticals, programming skills and film industry.

The Governor drew attention to St Petersburg being one of the top 10 global tourist destinations with an estimated 6.75 million tourist arrivals this year. Offering a range of products from the world famous Hermitage & other museums, opera, Ballet, Theatre and other cultural & architectural wonders. He also referred to the considerable interest amongst Russians about India as evidenced by the increasing number of Russians, including children’s groups visiting India of late.

Chief Minister greeted the Governor and complimented him for maintaining St Petersburg as a breathtakingly beautiful city as well as for the great tourist infrastructure that had been created. She apprised him of Rajasthan’s own dominance of tourism in India, offering a vast array of Tourist Interests – including forts, palaces, museums, monuments, wildlife.

Turning attention to the opportunities of collaboration in mutually beneficial business interests, Chief Minister sought St. Petersburg’s expertise in water treatment & recycling technologies as this city had achieved sewage treatment and reuse levels of 98.5%. Raje drew attention to the strategic location of Rajasthan between the two largest consumer markets of India namely the NCR & greater Mumbai, as well as to the fact that 40% of the Dedicated Freight Corridor, connecting Delhi with Mumbai, falls in Rajasthan. She invited investments from the Defence equipment manufacturing industry of Russia under the Government of India’s “Make in India” program.

Chief Minister extended invitation to the Governor to visit Rajasthan, alongwith a business delegation and participate in the Global Agritech Meet in Nov this year and in Resurgent Rajasthan in November next year. Governor also extended an invitation to CM to send a business delegation to St Petersburg in March 2017 to participate in the MSME Conclave proposed to be held there.

St Petersburg, 8th July 2016