Relax visa norms for Indian professionals: India to US

Lalit K Jha
Washington, Mar 19 (PTI) India has strongly taken up
the difficulties faced by its companies and American MNCs in
getting a US visa for Indian professionals with the Obama
Administration and asked to make sure that the issue does not
hinder the fast growing trade and commerce ties between the
two countries.
Concluding his three-day trip to Washington, Indian
Commerce and Industry Minister, Anand Sharma, said that he
effectively raised the visa issue with top Obama
Administration officials, in particular those being given to
Indian professionals; who are in a very high demand in the US.
"I have the issue of visas, particularly for the
professionals. Given the fact that a large number of Indian
entities are engaged here generating employment and creating
wealth," Sharma said.
Noting that there has been significant agreements
between Indian and the US cooperate entities, he said recently
Bharati group has given USD 2.5 billion contract to the IBM.
"We have Indian professionals visit the countries, or
go to work in other countries in the USA or for that matter
other parts of Europe.
Arguing that the impression that Indian professionals
eat into the jobs of the Americans was "not correct", he said
"in India, we have large number of multinationals which have
their R & D hubs in India. More than 130 of the Fortune 500
countries have already established their bases in India. So it
is mutually rewarded." MORE PTI