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Follow Usnot only being smoothened out, but business visas are now easier to obtain.
At the discussion on ‘Ambassador’s Speak’ held at Nasscom 2001, almost
all the ambassadors of the five Western nations, mentioned that visa
formalities were being eased to ensure smoother movement of Indian IT
professionals.
According to Richard Celeste, US ambassador to India, nearly 95,000 H1B visas
will be issued in India next year. The US ambassador also pointed out the need
for having better educational institutions to feed the growing demand of IT
professionals.
Speaking at the meet, Peter Sutherland, High Commissioner, Canadian High
Commission, said the Canadian minister for immigration will soon visit India to
sort out issues relating to granting of visas. Although Canada provides a
competitive environment for budding entrepreneurs, it was still being considered
merely as a tourist destination.
Bernard de Montferrand, Ambassador, Embassy of France in India, explained
that visas for IT engineers were being issued without a hitch in their country.
"The France-India Center for Promotion of Advanced Research is taking up
hi-tech projects that will benefit both countries," he said.
The German ambassador to India Heimo Richter revealed that over 8,000 IT
engineers had already benefited from the special scheme by coming to Germany.
Out of this, the largest group came from India. Around 22 Indian software
companies have already set up their bases in Germany, including Infosys, TCS and
Wipro.
The High Commissioner to Singapore Kwon Pun Wong spoke about projects such as
the Tata-Singapore Airlines tie-up and the proposed cable link between Chennai
and Singapore. He said that Singapore would be opening an office at Chennai
called ‘Contact Singapore’ to increase trade.