India 'very strongly' raised H-1B visa issue with US, says Minister Suresh Prabhu

WASHINGTON: India has "very strongly" raised the issue of H-1B and L1 visas with the US, Union Minister Suresh Prabhu said today, asserting that the American economy will find it difficult to cope with the reality as it has been immensely benefited by Indian IT professionals.

The US has tightened the norms for issuing the most sought-after H-1B and L1 visas in line with the Trump administration's goal to protect American workers from discrimination and replacement by foreign labour."We raised very strongly the issue of Indian professionals and H-1B and L1 visa issues," Prabhu said after the first US-India bilateral Trade Policy Forum (TPF) under the Trump administration which was also attended by US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer.

"We explained to them that we are not raising this issue because Indians will find it difficult to come, because US economy itself will find it difficult to cope with the reality because the US has immensely benefited by IT professionals penetrating into the market by offering services that has improved their productivity," Prabhu said."I hope they will look into the issue," Prabhu said, as he pointed out towards the issue of mismatch between US visa and US social security regimes, wherein Indian professionals making social security contributions do not receive their due benefits upon their return to India.

"The Commerce Secretary clearly said that trade deficit is an issue, but not by reducing imports from India but promoting more exports from the US to India which is absolutely a very positive and an extremely forward-looking idea, which we welcome," Prabhu told reporters at the conclusion of his two-day visit to Washington DC.India has started buying crude oil from the US, he said, adding that there is great potential for the United States in the fast expanding aviation market in India.

Indian aviation companies such as Spicejet and Jet Airways have placed orders for over 300 aircraft worth several billions of dollars.As American companies shift their manufacturing base from China to the US, this would also result in more American export to India, Prabhu said."This is something we would have to balance between the commercial interest and the larger public interest," he said, adding that there is a review due early next year, during which concerns of the US would be relayed back to the reviewers.

Prabhu said that his meetings have yielded very positive results in removal of barriers in export of Indian mangoes to the US.India has been demanding that pre-clearance be transferred to Indian National Plant Protection Organisation, which is well equipped and trained to do the necessary inspection and meet the US standards."Of course, you should get Pomegranates and Table Grapes also," Prabhu said, referring to the progress made in removing hurdles towards export of these products to the US.

Prabhu said, India has sought cooperation from the US on certain technology sectors like artificial intelligence, electric vehicles and aviation. Prabhu appreciated the growing strategic and economic relationship between India and the US.India desires to address the concerns of providing healthcare to its citizens at reasonable costs and balancing it with the need to introduce high-end technology, he said as he encouraged American companies and manufacturers of medical devices to establish manufacturing facilities in India.He also pointed out that the Draft Pharmaceutical Policy addresses many of the US concerns and sought comments from industry stakeholders on the draft policy.