India speeds up business visas for Chinese professionals amidst eased tensions
New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): The ice in relations between India and China now seems to be thawing. In a significant diplomatic and economic move, the Indian government has eased business visa rules for Chinese professionals. According to reports, this decision has been taken as part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's efforts to improve relations with the neighboring country amid US tariffs. With this new change, the long delay in getting business visas for Chinese professionals will end and the visa approval process will be completed in less than a month. According to officials, the government has removed layers of additional administrative scrutiny from the visa process, due to which visas are now being processed within four weeks.
Relations between the two countries became extremely tense following the violent clash in the Galwan Valley in Ladakh in June 2020. Consequently, India imposed an unannounced travel ban on Chinese citizens and placed business visas under strict supervision by the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of External Affairs. However, following the recent meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping, and the agreement reached for the first time in seven years to restore relations, the situation has improved. Direct air services between the two countries have also resumed, and visa regulations have now been relaxed.
Indian industries have paid a heavy price due to the tightening of visa rules. According to estimates by the Observer Research Foundation (ORF), a think tank, Indian electronics manufacturing companies have suffered a massive loss of approximately $15 billion over the past four years due to visa delays and strict scrutiny. Mobile phone manufacturers, which import essential components from China and rely on Chinese engineers, have suffered the most. According to a Reuters report, even major companies like Xiaomi have struggled to obtain visas. Furthermore, the solar industry has faced a severe shortage of skilled labor, disrupting many projects and expansion plans.
The industry has welcomed the government's move wholeheartedly. Pankaj Mohindroo, head of the Indian Cellular and Electronics Association, praised the decision to expedite skilled-visa approvals for professionals from border countries. The decision is reportedly based on the recommendations of a high-level committee headed by former Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba, which aims to facilitate Chinese investment and boost the Indian manufacturing sector. While there has been no official response from the Ministry of External Affairs or the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), sources indicate that the visa issue has now been resolved.