External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar highlighted a growing global demand for Indian talent, noting that countries such as Italy, Spain, Austria, and Greece have expressed keen interest in accessing India’s vast human resources pool as swiftly and efficiently as possible.
Speaking at the launch of the ‘Global Access to Talent from India’ initiative, Jaishankar stated, “There is a demand in the world, an availability in India, and the basic groundwork has been done to enable Indian talent to gain global access.”
He attributed the surge in demand to several key factors: changing demographic trends, the rapid evolution and diffusion of new technologies, cultural and work ethic compatibilities, and a strong global emphasis on trust and resilience across sectors. Currently, approximately 34 million Indians and Persons of Indian Origin live and work overseas, reflecting India's substantial global workforce presence.
The minister noted that Japan’s Speaker was recently in India to advocate for an actionable plan that would ensure a steady and predictable flow of skilled Indian workers to Japan. This plan would build upon the existing bilateral agreement on specialised skilled workers (SSW) signed between the two countries.
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Jaishankar also pointed to active worker flows to Israel, while Mauritius has already formalised a framework for recruiting Indian professionals. Malaysia, too, has opened up multiple sectors—especially in construction—for Indian talent. India, he said, has historically been a major source of skilled workers for Singapore, and as the city-state’s economy grows, its demand for Indian workers is expected to evolve and expand further.
He also mentioned that during German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s visit to India in October, discussions were held about significantly increasing the number of employment visas for Indian nationals—potentially by up to four times the current levels. Jaishankar emphasised that the largest populations of Indian nationals working abroad today are in the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, underlining the Gulf region's longstanding reliance on Indian labour.
Additionally, global service sectors such as shipping, aviation, and hospitality are grappling with post-Covid workforce challenges, including shifting attitudes towards job expectations. This, Jaishankar said, presents new opportunities for Indians willing to take up roles in these recovering industries.
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