London,July 28,2012: India has raised with the UK the issue ofvisa problems being faced by its professionals and the way they are impacting bilateral trade and investments. At a meeting with British 
Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills Vince Cable, Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma has said, “The bilateral trade and investment between the two nations is getting impacted by difficulties in obtaining visas.” Sharma said India wants to make sure that business visitors are able to travel to the UK without facing visa related troubles. He said the IT industry in particular is getting impacted by such issues as delivery of services is dependent on the movement of professionals at short notice. Sharma impressed upon the UK government to carefully take into account the gains arising to the UK economy from the contributions by the highly skilled workers from India. “…any unreasonable cap would affect the productivity of around 700 Indian companies which provide substantial employment in the UK,” he said. In April, the UK stopped the facility of Post Study Work Visa to Indians and other non-EU students. It allowed them to work for two years after graduation/post-graduation. UK, Germany and several other European countries are following tough visa regimes for professionals and students from developing countries. India has raised this issue on many occasions with these countries. Sharma also raised the issue of visa with British Foreign Secretary William Hague, who has assured him of looking into the issue at the earliest. Meanwhile, George Osborne MP, Chancellor of the Exchequer, UK in his meeting with Sharma assured to provide an open investment climate for Indian businesses. On India-EU free trade pact, Osborne said that UK remains a strong advocate of the deal and will provide all help India and the 27-nation bloc are committed to finalising a balanced agreement by 2012. Osborne also called for an early and amicable solution to the Vodafone issue. Following an amendment to the Income-Tax Act with retrospective effect, the UK-based Vodafone may be asked to pay Rs 20,000 crore tax, including interest and penalty, for its 2007 acquisition of Hong Kong basedHutchison Telecom, including its India assets. Sharma, meanwhile, invited British companies to invest in the National Manufacturing and Investment Zone (NMIZ) as partner. Hague asked his office to examine the opportunities for NMIZ in the UK. India has notified about 10 NMIZs, which will have world-class infrastructure for units. It aims to enhance manufacturing sector in India. In 2010-11, trade between India and the UK was USD 12.68 billion.
Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills Vince Cable, Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma has said, “The bilateral trade and investment between the two nations is getting impacted by difficulties in obtaining visas.” Sharma said India wants to make sure that business visitors are able to travel to the UK without facing visa related troubles. He said the IT industry in particular is getting impacted by such issues as delivery of services is dependent on the movement of professionals at short notice. Sharma impressed upon the UK government to carefully take into account the gains arising to the UK economy from the contributions by the highly skilled workers from India. “…any unreasonable cap would affect the productivity of around 700 Indian companies which provide substantial employment in the UK,” he said. In April, the UK stopped the facility of Post Study Work Visa to Indians and other non-EU students. It allowed them to work for two years after graduation/post-graduation. UK, Germany and several other European countries are following tough visa regimes for professionals and students from developing countries. India has raised this issue on many occasions with these countries. Sharma also raised the issue of visa with British Foreign Secretary William Hague, who has assured him of looking into the issue at the earliest. Meanwhile, George Osborne MP, Chancellor of the Exchequer, UK in his meeting with Sharma assured to provide an open investment climate for Indian businesses. On India-EU free trade pact, Osborne said that UK remains a strong advocate of the deal and will provide all help India and the 27-nation bloc are committed to finalising a balanced agreement by 2012. Osborne also called for an early and amicable solution to the Vodafone issue. Following an amendment to the Income-Tax Act with retrospective effect, the UK-based Vodafone may be asked to pay Rs 20,000 crore tax, including interest and penalty, for its 2007 acquisition of Hong Kong basedHutchison Telecom, including its India assets. Sharma, meanwhile, invited British companies to invest in the National Manufacturing and Investment Zone (NMIZ) as partner. Hague asked his office to examine the opportunities for NMIZ in the UK. India has notified about 10 NMIZs, which will have world-class infrastructure for units. It aims to enhance manufacturing sector in India. In 2010-11, trade between India and the UK was USD 12.68 billion.