LONDON (CU)_Britain’s Secretary of State for International Trade, Anne-Marie Trevelyan, is set to travel to New Delhi in January, with the aim of securing a trade deal which may provide British businesses with a head start in what is projected to be the world’s third-largest economy by 2050. The Minister will travel to the South Asian nation with a lucrative offer, which has received the support of Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, who is keen on curbing the growing influence of China across the region.
Relaxing immigration rules on Indian citizens has been a key demand made by Delhi, and Minister Trevelyan is expected to offer just that, the Times reported. According to the publication, as part of the upcoming trade talks, the British Trade Secretary will offer to ease immigration restrictions, with the aim of making it easier for thousands of Indian citizens to live and work in the European nation.
A scheme similar to that which was agreed with Australia, which allows young Australians the right to live and work in the UK for up to three years, is among the visa relaxation options that are under consideration, the national newspaper said. It also includes slashes in cut visa fees for students and permission for them to live in Britain for a specified period of time after they graduate.
Members of Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s administration are reportedly in agreement that a “generous” offer on visas could be the price for a deal to enter the lucrative market of India. “The tech and digital space in India is still hugely protectionist and if we could open up even a slither of access it would put us ahead of the game,” one government figure told the Times.
