A New York-based veteran Pakistani journalist, who had a long association with slain former premier Benazir Bhutto, says she was ‘not arrogant’ and used the ‘internet to the maximum’ to develop a direct rapport with everyone.

"Her years of exile taught her more about Politics and how to handle people than her years in power. She developed a direct rapport with anyone and everyone and used the Internet to the maximum," wrote Shaheen Sehbai, who often met Bhutto in New York or Washington while she was in self-exile.

"Her email Politics, as her critics used to joke, did wonders for her. She was in direct touch with all and she got feedback instantly, helping her make quick and right decisions. That style of Politics kept her ahead of her opponents and kept the cadres engaged, giving them a feeling of intimacy and a feeling of access to the top leadership,"wrote Sehbai, who learnt about Bhutto's death after he returned from work at 3 am.

Sehbai says Bhutto was inexperienced and a little naïve in her early years of power but with trials and tribulations of horrendous magnitude she matured into a polished politician, a diplomat par excellence and a pragmatic leader.

On his numerous exclusive sessions with Bhutto, he says, "what we talked about was everything probably no one else would ever dare to raise with her, friend or critic. Like once she asked how she could correct the perception created about her that she was corrupt and prompt was (a friend's) reply: Divorce Asif Ali Zardari.

Courtesy : financialexpress.com

E-commerce transactions in India are expected to reach USD 100 billion in the year 2008 as Companies increase use of Internet to cut costs and improve speed and efficiency, a top industry official said.

"The e-commerce transactions, which are currently growing at the rate of 30-40 per cent in India, are expected to reach USD 100 billion," Bikky Khosla, CEO of business-to-business (B2B) portal Tradeindia, said here.

"With the advent of Internet, far-flung global Markets have shrunk into one small market. The B2B portals have succeeded in breaking the geographical and other conventional barriers involved in trading," he said.

"They have also succeeded in cutting down on the time and cost involved in the export-import business," Khosla said.

B2B portals help exporters and importers to trade with ease. Companies can avoid costs in terms of manpower, time involved in a transaction and document preparation, he said.

"Today, B2B portals are an absolute necessity for all enterprises of any type and size. The advantages of having the assistance of a quality B2B portal are massive. Registering one's company with a B2B portal can have immediate impact on the company's productivity," Khosla added.

Tradeindia is the largest B2B portal operating in the country. Other portals include Indiamart.com, Tradeget.com and Indianexporters.com.

Courtesy : financialexpress.com