The Hindu Business Line : India Inc to take up visas issue with UK

While the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, may have his own agenda for his visit to the UK, the accompanying delegation of India Inc has its own. Mr Saroj Kumar Poddar, President of FICCI, and Mr R. Seshasayee, President of CII, will lead a 70-member joint business delegation to the UK.

With $9-billion bilateral trade in merchandise, the UK is an important business partner country for India, according to FICCI. "Even at 25 per cent growth every year, the total trade in merchandise alone will cross a figure of $20 billion by 2010," said Mr Poddar, ahead of the visit.

Issues

The specific issues that the FICCI delegation would try to address in the UK include the one of visas. The chamber wants L-1 visas as issued by the US authorities that allows foreign companies in US to transfer their employees in US for up to seven years.

The chamber also feels that repatriation of social security contribution of Indian professionals working in the UK continues to be a problem. The chamber will try to work out a procedure to repay or transfer the amount of social security contribution if an employee leaves the job and returns to India.

CII too has outlined certain areas where it wants to work on with its British counterpart. "The UK has done a good work in the cluster approach to bring about improvement in the SME sector. We will try to seek partnership with the UK to bring about innovation and other benefits for the sector," said Mr Jayant Bhuyan, Deputy Director General and Head International Operations, CII.

More Stories on : Foreign Relations | Foreign Trade | Travel & Places

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page

Stories in this Section
India Inc to take up visas issue with UK

Maharashtra Govt puts oil exploration plans on hold

IITians rally

SSP units may get higher concession