US cannot stop talented Indians from stiff Visa regim: Minister

04 February, Bengaluru

In a belligarent stand, Union Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman Thursday said the US, that hiked Visa fee many folds for Indian technology workers traveling to that country ,cannot stop the increased flow of highly skilled young travel across the globe for work.

”IT and other Technology specialists will be free to travel wherever they want to go in the world”.

Assuaging the concerns of Indian IT companies like TCS, Infosys,Wipro and others, who are set to take the burden of high increase in work Visa fee for tech workers imposed by the US, the Commerce Minister said, ”I am sure not with just US, but with other countries (in the West and Europe), we will be able to take that forward.”

Speaking at the Valedictory of Investor’s meet organised by Karnataka Government, Ms Sitharaman said the Visa fee for tech workers went up many folds in the US, despite Indian government’s appeals made to that government.

”I had spoken to US trade representative Mr Michael Foreman onthis, as well as many Congressmen. We have said that this non-tariff barrier imposed on Indian Engineers is against your own claims on market access that India had obtained. Then why Indian talent, whichis her strength, is curtailed to travel. Why cannot these youth from Indian middle class be given the benefit of a reasonable (Visa)fee,” she asked.

The Minister said the Visa fee cannot be at such ‘ridiculous high’ in any country. ”We are fairly well seized of the matter and are well secure, that we will not lose out on it. I want to assure the IT industry in Bengaluru and other IT cities in the country about this”.

Ms Sitaraman said Prime Minister Narendra Modi believed in India’s growth and its youth talent. He want every State to grow equally and none left behind.