UK PM hints at easing work visa norms for Indian professionals
NEW DELHI: UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s comments indicating a more flexible approach towards visas for Indian professionals are expected to infuse vigour into upcoming negotiations between India and the UK for a free trade agreement (FTA).
Any forward movement on the issue of visas for professionals may lead to India considering lower tariffs on a range of items, including Scotch whisky, three people familiar with developments said.
There are indications the UK could soften its earlier hardline position on visas for Indian professionals and students on practical grounds, and this will be a positive development for the third round of trade negotiations set to begin next week, the people said requesting anonymity.
“There are indications that Britain is willing to be more accommodative on visas in order to expeditiously finalise a free trade agreement by the end of this year. This is a major positive change to address one of India’s key concerns,” one person said.
A second person, with direct knowledge of trade negotiations, said an easier visa regime is needed for market access. “For example, if an Indian IT firms is implementing a project in UK, it must enjoy a rule-based, fair, equitable and easy visa regime so that it could send professionals to execute the project.” What we want ‘AMITY’ – movement of people related to ‘AYUSH’ (India’s indigenous and alternative medicine systems), medical, information technology, textiles and yoga,” he said.
A third person said that the gesture of British PM is positive. “India is working on several areas of interest to the UK. One such area is Scotch whisky. Most of IMFLs (Indian-made foreign liquor) do not compete with Scotch. A similar situation was faced for wines when we negotiated an FTA with Australia but the issue was resolved to the satisfaction of both parties through in-built mechanisms to protect the Indian wine industry.”
Speaking to reporters on the plane on his way to India, Johnson signalled he is prepared to be more accommodating on an issue that could have stalled the talks. “I have always been in favour of talented people coming to [the UK]...We are short to the tune of hundreds of thousands of people in our economy and we need to have a progressive approach and we will,” he said.
Johnson’s latest remarks marked a change in position from earlier this year. In January, he dismissed the notion that visa norms will be relaxed for Indians in pursuit of an FTA.
The Indian side has made mobility of professionals and students a key part of all trade negotiations with other countries. The issue of visas was a key part of the recent trade deal with Australia.
The people mentioned above said the model adopted for Australian wines can be considered, with some modifications, for Scotch whisky. The India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA), signed earlier this month, allows import of Australian wines in a calibrated manner. India permitted concessional import of only those Australian wines that have a minimum import price of $5 per bottle, with a reduced tariff of 100% against 150% earlier.