Sharma for easy immigration
The Union commerce and industry minister, Mr Anand Sharma, who is leading a top business delegation on an official visit to the UK, has raised the issue of proposed cap on immigration from non-European Union countries with the newly-elected Tory-LibDem coalition government.
The UK government proposes to impose a permanent cap on immigration from April next year. The home secretary, Ms Theresa May, on Monday had announced interim limits on the entry of non-EU migrants, mostly those entering the country via Tiers I and II, to “avoid large numbers of applications between now and April next year.”
Mr Sharma, who met the British Prime Minister, Mr David Cameron, business secretary, Mr Vince Cable, and foreign secretary, Mr William Hague and universities and science minister, Mr David Willetts, said he raised the issue in his discussions with them.
“I raised the issue of cap on immigration in my meetings this morning,” Mr Sharma said at India House on Monday evening. “Our business leaders, professionals and other institutions have stated concerns over this matter. Though we understand the United Kingdom and European Union regulations, but the regime has to be investor friendly and must not come in the way of free movement of investors and professionals,” he added.
Mr Sharma said that he was assured by the British ministers that the Indian concerns would be taken on board and refused to reveal and particulars about his discussions.
“Bilateral trade is worth £11 billion a year, and India is the second biggest foreign investor to the UK. We will push for a successful outcome to the Doha trade talks,” Mr Cable, a senior LibDem MP, said in a statement.
Post new comment