India focused on mobility for skilled workers as NZ tightens immigration rules: MEA
New Delhi, July 4
India is focused on ensuring greater mobility for its high-skilled professionals rather than broader migration issues, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Friday, as questions were raised over New Zealand's proposed stricter immigration rules ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the country.
Responding to a question during a special briefing on Prime Minister Modi's visit to Indonesia, Australia and New Zealand, Secretary (East) in the MEA, Rudrendra Tandon, said India was aware of the wider global debate on migration but stressed that New Delhi's priority remained facilitating the movement of skilled professionals.
"Well, you know, on the migration question, we are aware that there's a lot of discussion in many countries, not just New Zealand, on the whole issue of migration. But our focus is actually mobility. It is part and parcel of our trade agreements, and it's very important to maintain that distinction," Tandon said.
He added that the Government of India has been working to improve opportunities for high-skilled Indian workers, including CEOs and technical experts. He said, "The Government of India has been trying to improve the prospects of mobility for our high-skilled workers, our CEOs, our technical experts, because experience has shown us that over a period of time, the hassles faced by our technical experts do create the effect of a de facto non-tariff barrier."
Referring to the recently signed India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement on April 27, Tandon said the issue had been addressed as part of the pact. "In fact, this question was tried to be addressed in the recently signed India-New Zealand FTA. And of course, once it comes into effect, we will know how successful that has been," he added.
On the aspect of the Indian diaspora during the Prime Minister's visit, Tandon said community engagement would remain an important element of the tour.
"The demand from the Indian community is always so strong that it has become an almost of all his visits. Because there is a significant diaspora in all three countries that he is visiting, there will certainly be a diaspora component. It will be formatted differently in different countries," he said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as part of his upcoming three-nation visit, will travel to Indonesia on July 8-9, Australia on July 10 and New Zealand on July 11.
The visit to Indonesia will see a focus on reviewing the bilateral partnership, while in Australia, PM Modi will participate in the third India-Australia Annual Summit process. Covering New Zealand in the last leg of his visit, PM Modi would become the first Indian Prime Minister to visit the country in forty years.
— ANI
Reader Comments
While I support high-skilled mobility, I hope the government also addresses the challenges faced by Indian students and workers in New Zealand who aren't top-tier CEOs. Many middle-class families invest in education abroad, and sudden rule changes can be devastating. Need more balance in policy.
Forty years since an Indian PM visited New Zealand—finally! The diaspora there is small but vibrant. This visit should strengthen ties beyond just trade; cultural and educational exchanges matter too. Let's hope the FTA delivers on the promises made in April. 🤞
As an Indian living overseas, I appreciate the distinction between migration and mobility. But the MEA should also push for more student-friendly policies. Not everyone is a CEO—many of us are just trying to gain experience and return home after a few years. The current NZ rules make that harder.
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