In the pursuit of a free trade agreement (FTA) with India, the UK is claimed to be willing to give visa concessions to the country, including enabling young Indians to live and work in the UK for three years.
The potential offer will be discussed when Anne-Marie Trevelyan, the foreign trade secretary, visits Delhi later this month, according to the Times. Delhi has made it clear that it wants immigration requirements for Indian people to be eased.
According to the publication, one of the visa relaxation possibilities being considered is a programme similar to one agreed upon with Australia, which would allow young Indians to live and work in the UK for up to three years.
Another option is to reduce student visa fees and allow them to stay in the UK after graduation for a length of time.
Trevelyan is thought to have the support of Liz Truss, the foreign secretary, who wants to limit China’s rising influence in the region. They are likely to face stiff opposition from Some Secretary Priti Patel, who is opposed to the deal.
Another concession might be a reduction in visa fees for Indian students, which can cost up to £1,400. Tourist visas could potentially be less expensive.
“Ministers believe a trade agreement with Delhi would give British businesses a head start in what is expected to be the world’s third-largest economy by 2050,” the report stated. It’s also possible that Britain will go ahead because India has no bilateral trade agreements with either the United States or the European Union.
A representative for the Department of International Trade explained the logic behind such efforts, saying, “India is forecast to become the world’s third-largest economy by 2050, and a free trade deal will open up tremendous potential for UK businesses to trade with India’s £2.25-trillion economy.”
Ministers agree that a deal with Delhi would give British companies a major leg up in what is expected to be the world’s third-largest economy by 2050.
Source: The Economic Times
