EAM slams countries restricting talent flow

Countries that put up roadblocks to the mobility of professionals across borders will be “net losers”, external affairs minister S Jaishankar said on Wednesday against the backdrop of a move by the US to reform the H-IB visa programme and opposition to hiring of foreign workers in parts of Europe.

- Rezaul H Laskar

S Jaishankar

Leaders in entrepreneurship and technology have backed mobility of professionals, which is being opposed only by those with a “certain political base or a constituency to address”, Jaishankar said while addressing a conclave organised by India’s World magazine on the theme of “The Mobility Imperative”.

Jaishankar linked the opposition to mobility of professionals in certain countries to their efforts to get firms to move their manufacturing back home from China. Responding to a question on the political backlash against immigration and the H-IB debate in the US, he said India needs to convince other nations that the “use of talent across boundaries is to our mutual benefit”.

He added, “That they would be net losers if they erect too many roadblocks to the flow of talent. Particularly if you move into an era of advanced manufacturing, you will need more talent.”