New Delhi has identified 30-40 countries as potential partners for signing migration and mobility pacts, bilateral agreements that aim to create new pathways for mobility and employment opportunities for Indian citizens.
On Wednesday, Ausaf Sayeed, a top official at the Indian Foreign Ministry, announced the government's plans to simplify immigration rules and transform the role of immigration officials from regulators to facilitators.
“We feel that traditional markets like Gulf Cooperation Council are becoming saturated and more competitive. Of course, there are countries in Europe and Southeast Asia like Japan and China, they are ageing and we still have a competitive advantage in terms of demographic dividend,” Sayeed said.
The migration and mobility pact, which provides pathways for mobility and employment, was first established with Denmark in 2009 and has since been signed with France, the UK, and Portugal, among others.
India is also currently in discussions with Germany, Greece, Australia, and several other countries with the goal of establishing similar pacts, the Indian diplomat underlined.
To safeguard the interests of its citizens working abroad, the Indian government has entered into manpower and domestic workers agreements with a range of countries, including those in the Gulf. In addition, India has signed social security agreements with around 20 European countries.
According to a World Bank report, the country is expected to hit the $100 billion mark in terms of remittances in 2022, due to wage hikes and a strong labor market in the US and other OECD countries.
This represents an increase of 11.8% over the $89.4 billion received in 2021 and follows the steady growth seen in recent years, with India having received $83.1 billion in remittances in 2020.