3,000 Indians will be given annual visas to visit the UK, in a new scheme launched by British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to strengthen bilateral and economic ties. Under the new UK-India Young Professionals scheme, the country will offer 3,000 places a year to degree-educated Indian nationals aged 18-30 to come and work in the UK for two years. The move comes as Sunak met Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the first time on the sidelines of the ongoing G20 summit in Indonesia.
Sunak said in a statement released by the prime minister, “The Indo-Pacific is vital to our security and prosperity. It is full of dynamic and fast-growing economies and the next decade will be defined by what happens in the region.” ” “I know firsthand the incredible value of our deep cultural and historical links with India. I am delighted that India’s most talented young people will now have the opportunity to experience all that life in the UK has to offer.” The plan will be mutual. Almost a quarter of international students in the UK are from India and Indian investment in the UK supports 95,000 jobs across the UK.
“The launch of the scheme is a significant moment for both our bilateral relationship with India and the UK’s wider commitment to building stronger ties with the Indo-Pacific region,” the Downing Street statement said. The UK is also negotiating a trade deal with India, which would build on the UK-India trading relationship, which is already worth £24 billion and would allow the UK to seize the opportunities presented by India’s growing economy.
