Prime Minister Narendra Modi has hailed Germany’s decision on an over fourfold increase in annual visas from 20,000 to 90,000 for India’s skilled workforce.
In his keynote address at the 18th Asia Pacific Conference of German Business in New Delhi on Friday, Prime Minister Modi told the visiting German Chancellor Olaf Scholz that he is confident that this decision would contribute to Germany’s growth.
The Asia Pacific Conference (APK) is a biennial event for business leaders, executives and political representatives from Germany and the countries in Indo-Pacific.
The conference is expected to give a further fillip to trade and investment ties of India and Germany.
India is hosting the APK after a gap of 12 years.
About 650 top business leaders and CEOs from Germay, India and other countries are participating in the event.
Modi said that the confidence that Germany has reposed in India’s skilled manpower is extraordinary.
Germany has however made it amply clear that while it wants to be open, it can decide who can come.
The German Chancellor is on a three day official visit (October 24 to 26) to India at the invitation of Prime Minister Modi.
His third visit to India is significant as it is taking place in the 25th year of India Germany strategic partnership.
Prime Minister Modi and Chancellor Scholz will also co-chair the 7th Intergovernmental Consultations
Modi said, “We have made a roadmap of Viksit Bharat in the coming 25 years. I am happy that in this important time, the German cabinet has released the ‘Focus on India’ document….Germany has decided to increase the visa number for the skilled Indian workforce from 20,000 to 90,000. It will give a new pace to Germany’s growth.”
The Prime Minister explained that the ‘Focus on India’ document provides a blueprint of how the world’s two powerful democracies and leading economies can join hands to become force for global good.
He added, “ Talent, technology, innovation and infrastructure are tools of India’s growth. Aspirational India is India’s biggest driving force. India is equipped with double power of Artificial Intelligence and Aspirational India.’’
The Prime Minister said that human resource and human innovations will drive the 21st century. “ Therefore, India is focusing on the skills of its youth and democratization of technology.
The German Chancellor emphasized in his address that his government has agreed only a few days back on a strategy to attract skilled Indian employees to Germany.
Scholz however stressed that Germany’s position is about being open but not naïve.
“Even today, Indians are largest group of foreign students at our universities. Last year alone, the number of Indians working in Germany grew by 23,000. Their talent is a welcome addition to our labour market and let me add, we don’t just welcome talent from India to work in Germany but from all of your countries.”
Chancellor Scholz said, “ To make this happen, we passed one of the world’s most progressive laws for labour immigration. We are digitizing our visa process, speeding our procedures and making them user-friendlly.’’
He further said that Germany is reducing irregular migration and facilitating returns of those have no right to be in our country.
“The message is that Germany is open for skilled workers but we can decide who comes. This is important because only then will our citizens continue to accept our openness.’’
“One of the key lessons of the work of the three Nobel prize winners is that open societies are more likely to prosper.”
He concluded his nearly 12 minute speech by saying, “ We need to maintain the spirit of openness in our countries and in today’s world. So, let us be the ones that spread it.’’
Notably,migration and mobility has become a key element of India-Germany relations.
According to official sources, there are approximately 2.5 lakh (December 2023) Indian nationals and persons of Indian-origin in Germany.
At around 50,000, Indian nationals now account for the largest group of international students in German universities.
The Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement (MMPA) with Germany was signed in December 2022.
This is the first MMPA that Germany concluded with any country.
It is expected to give a further fillip to trade and investment ties of India and Germany.
