Germany increases visas for skilled Indian workforce to 90,000 per year: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday (October 25) said Germany has decided to increase visas for the skilled Indian workforce from 20,000 to 90,000 per year and this will give a further push to the economic growth of the European nation.

Addressing the 18th Asia-Pacific Conference of German Business 2024 in Delhi, Modi said the increasing of visas for the skilled Indian workforce is amazing and it shows the confidence that Germany has expressed in India’s skilled manpower.

Talent is welcome: German Chancellor

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who also spoke at the conference, said that recently the German government has agreed on a strategy to attract skilled Indian employees to Germany.

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“Today Indians are the largest group of foreign students at our universities. Last year alone, the number of Indians working in Germany grew by 23,000. That talent is a welcome addition to our labour market,” Scholz said.

He added that Germany is digitising its visa process, speeding up procedures and making them more user-friendly.

“At the same time, we are reducing irregular migration and facilitating returns of those who have no right to be in our country. The message is that Germany is open for skilled workers but then we can decide who comes,” he said.

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Also on Friday, Modi hosted Scholz at his residence and discussed various issues.

Invest in India: Modi

Meanwhile, inviting German businesses to invest in the country, Modi said there is no better place for investment than India and this is the right time to join the country's growth story.

He emphasised that the time was 'right' for foreign investors to participate in India's growth story, join 'make in India' initiative and 'make for the world'.

“This is the right time to join India's growth story... India becoming a global trade and manufacturing hub,” Modi said, adding, today India stands on strong pillars of democracy, demography, demand and data.

He further said that India is doing record investments in roads, railways, airports and ports and the Indo-Pacific region is very important for the future of the world.

The conference was held on Friday after a gap of 12 years.

Modi said that the government has prepared a roadmap for making India a developed nation by 2047 and in this important time, the German cabinet has released a "Focus on India" document to further strengthen ties between the two countries.

Power of AI

He added that India is becoming a major hub for diversification, de-risking, trade and manufacturing, and it provides huge business opportunities for German firms.

For investors and businesses, he said, "what could be a better place than India?" He added that the four key pillars of India's growth are talent, technology, innovation, and infrastructure, and to drive all this, "we have the power of aspirational India (AI)".

India is focussing on skills and democratisation of technology and its important missions related to sectors such as artificial intelligence, semiconductor, green hydrogen, and space technology too provide opportunities for investments and collaborations, the prime minister said.

He added that the visiting delegation should enjoy India's culture, cuisines and shopping also.

The bilateral trade is over USD 30 billion at present. Hundreds of German companies are operating in India while Indian firms are also increasing their presence in Germany.

(With agency inputs)