The UK’s Focus is on the smart brains from India, hints at easier visas policies
New Delhi: The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Boris Johnson is on two days India visit. Ahead of his two days India visit, PM Boris Johnson yesterday opened the door to relaxing visa restrictions for Indians as part of a free trade agreement that he hopes to secure by the end of the year.
Speaking on his first trip to the country as prime minister, Johnson said that the UK had “massive shortages” of skilled laborers including “experts in IT and programmers”.
PM Johnson said that “while immigration needed to be controlled he was in a favour of having people coming to this country and that the UK needed to have a professional approach.”
Visas to study, work and settle in the UK have long been a top priority for Delhi in talks with the UK on improving commercial ties.
Asked by reporters whether he would have anything to offer PM Modi on visas, the prime minister immediately made reference to the UK’s need for hundreds of thousands of workers with in-demand skills, who are given favored treatment under the post-Brexit points-based immigration system. Boris Johnson has indicated he is ready to U-turn on immigration visas as part of the price for a trade deal with India.
London’s reluctance to open its doors is seen as the principal obstacle to the trade deal, which both sides have said they want to conclude by the end of this year.
Johnson said that “the commercial agreements and export deals to be announced during his trip are worth a total of £1bn and will create an estimated 11,000 jobs, mostly in the UK. British politicians have to respect and understand the sensitivities of the UK’s history as the imperial ruler of India. The great thing about the relationship today is that it is in a different place and it is less encumbered by that baggage.”
The long-awaited trip – was twice postponed because of the Covid pandemic.
Johnson said “As I arrive in India today, I see vast possibilities for what our two great nations can achieve together. From next-generation 5G telecoms and AI to new partnerships in health research and renewable energy – the UK and India are leading the world. Our powerhouse partnership is delivering jobs, growth, and opportunities for our people, and it will only go from strength to strength in the coming years.”
(Vinayak)
