Visa rules ‘biggest block to UK-India trade deal’
Two prominent Anglo-Indians disagreed on whether or not the UK had missed its chance to forge closer post-Brexit ties with India.
18 June 2018In an article debating the issue in London’s business-focused newspaper City AM, Lord Bilimoria, the founder of Cobra Beer and president of the UK Council for International Student Affairs, said he believed Britain had missed out because of its “hostile” immigration policy.But in the article to mark the start of UK-India Week, Manoj Ladwa, former communications director for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the founder of London-based media company Indian Inc, said he believed a deal could be done, not least because the UK remained India’s “preferred gateway into Europe and international finance”.
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But Mr Ladwa argued, “UK-India Week begins today, and a delegation of Indian business leaders will soon arrive to conduct talks on the future of this winning partnership.“As ‘Global India’ continues on its trajectory as the fastest-growing major economy in the world, the chance to forge closer ties is there for Britain to take. India still treasures London as its preferred gateway into Europe and international finance. Innovative bond markets at the London Stock Exchange are harnessing London’s leading financial position to boost investment in Indian infrastructure and manufacturing capabilities.“The government is also incentivising UK businesses to invest in sustainable development in India, a market of 1.3 billion citizens.“Bilateral partners like India are vital for the UK after Brexit – particularly as President Trump shakes multilateral institutions, from the G7 to Nato to the UN, to their core. The UK-India partnership is harnessing markets to transform lives, and we’re fortunate to have this opportunity.”
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What lies ahead for the Anglia-India relationship?
Lord Bilimoria wrote, “The government’s hostile stance on immigration makes it unwilling to make positive steps towards seizing the chance to forge closer ties with India.“Indian business and tourist visitors pay visa fees four times higher for a two-year multiple-entry visa than the Chinese. Any hopes of closer UK-India ties, including a free trade agreement (FTA), rest on a huge shift in our government’s immigration policy.“FTAs are not just about tariffs and duties, they are about movement of people too: entrepreneurs, skilled workers, and students. We must remove international students from net migration calculations and reinstate the two-year post-study work visa for international graduates of UK universities. But this looks unlikely.“This missed opportunity will pose difficult questions about immigration for any future government that wishes to make the most of our longstanding and close ties with India, one of our closest allies.”But Mr Ladwa argued, “UK-India Week begins today, and a delegation of Indian business leaders will soon arrive to conduct talks on the future of this winning partnership.“As ‘Global India’ continues on its trajectory as the fastest-growing major economy in the world, the chance to forge closer ties is there for Britain to take. India still treasures London as its preferred gateway into Europe and international finance. Innovative bond markets at the London Stock Exchange are harnessing London’s leading financial position to boost investment in Indian infrastructure and manufacturing capabilities.“The government is also incentivising UK businesses to invest in sustainable development in India, a market of 1.3 billion citizens.“Bilateral partners like India are vital for the UK after Brexit – particularly as President Trump shakes multilateral institutions, from the G7 to Nato to the UN, to their core. The UK-India partnership is harnessing markets to transform lives, and we’re fortunate to have this opportunity.”
UK-India Week
The article came as UK-India Week began in Britain: a five-day international event with the theme ‘Global Britain Meets Global India’. Events include a launch in London attended by more than 200 global business leaders and senior politicians from the UK and India; and a two-day ‘Leadership Conclave’ on June 20- 21 in Buckinghamshire.Organisers said, “The conclave will address the growing need for innovation and adaptation in bilateral relations, staging a wide variety of dynamic discussions and symposia, from unmissable VIP keynote addresses to invaluable informal networking opportunities. Around 300 delegates and guests will participate in this event, originally planned for 120.”Relocate’s new Global Mobility Toolkit provides free information, practical advice and support for HR, global mobility managers and global teams operating overseas.Access hundreds of global services and suppliers in our Online Directory ©2024 Re:locate magazine, published by Profile Locations, Spray Hill, Hastings Road, Lamberhurst, Kent TN3 8JB. All rights reserved. This publication (or any part thereof) may not be reproduced in any form without the prior written permission of Profile Locations. Profile Locations accepts no liability for the accuracy of the contents or any opinions expressed herein.
