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Italy on Tuesday assured India that it will take steps to simplify the visa procedures for Indian professionals and students.
India’s Commerce and Industry Minister Mr Anand Sharma met Italian Foreign Minister Mr Franco Frattini here and raised the issue of simplification of visa procedures for (Indian) business leaders and professionals, an official statement said.
“In a significant development, the Foreign Minister of Italy assured Mr Sharma that major simplification will be made in the visa regime for business, students and researchers and official/diplomatic passport holders,” it said.
Indian professionals particularly from IT sector face hassles while taking visa for European countries.
Mr Frattini said, “In the new Schengen visa regime, flexibilities provided for the national visa regime will be explored fully to see for long-term multiple entry visas for up to 3 years for these categories“.
The Italian Minister also said that he will explore the possibility of using the certification from industry chambers from both the countries to certify the credentials for business visa.
Mr Sharma, who is on a three-day visit to Italy, said that the bilateral trade between the two is growing at over 25 per cent in 2010, after a decline due to the global crisis.
He said that both the countries should take steps to double the bilateral trade in the next five years.
“We could work towards a target of doubling our bilateral trade to $ 17.5 billion in the next five years,” he said. The two-way commerce stood at $ 7.26 billion in 2009-10.
Mr Sharma also said that businessmen of both the countries can cooperate in several sectors, including food processing, renewable energy, infrastructure and high technology.
“Italian industries can capitalise on their technical expertise and experience with the cost-effective production and the talent pool of human resource available in India to engage in mutually-beneficial partnerships,” he added.
Both the countries also agreed to form a Joint Business Council managed by industry body Ficci from India and Confindustria from Italy, the statement said.
The JBC will meet once a year coinciding with the bilateral ministerial meeting, it added. Mr Sharma further said India is also keen on upgrading technology and skills of Indian leather sector. “Both sides agreed to hold ‘Leather Show’ at Milan next year.” it said.
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