UK visa boost for Indian IT

Good news for Indian IT professionals

Britain has eased visa restrictions for Indian IT professionals in a move that has been hailed by India's software industry.

The UK e-commerce minister Douglas Alexander made the announcement at an international infotech meeting in the southern Indian city of Bangalore.

The holder now can visit as often as they wished

UK minister Douglas Alexander

Indian software professionals will now get two year multiple-entry work visas, Mr Alexander said.

"The holder now can visit as often as they wished," he said.

As many as 11,000 Indian IT professionals were given visas to the UK last year.

"Last year of the total number of foreigners to enter the UK on an IT basis, 63% were Indians," the minister said.

Tougher screening feared

Mr Alexander told the BBC that the doors were open to Indian software professionals despite the fallout from the 11 September terrorist attacks in the United States.

He added that they would not be subjected to a tougher screening process, something which was feared in the light of the attacks.

India-UK

Bilateral trade in 2000: $8bn

250 Indian companies in Britain

10 of them IT firms

11,000 Indian IT workers given visas last year

Germany, which is also wooing Indian IT professionals to overcome shortage of skilled personnel, has said it will adopt strict screening to prevent terrorists taking advantage of liberal immigration laws.

The British minister also said he wants Indian software companies to set up shop in Britain to gain access to the EU market.

"Twenty-one IT companies started operations last year and 10 this year," Mr Alexander said.

Over 200 Indian companies have offices in UK.

Looking at Europe

Britain is a major participant in the five-day IT meet, BangaloreIT.com, an annual event being held for the past four years.

Several international companies are taking part in the event organised by the Karnataka state government, which is aggressively marketing Bangalore as the main destination for multinational IT firms.

European companies is making a strong showing in the wake of the US technology meltdown.

A majority of the 70 companies participating are from Europe unlike previous years when American companies dominated the event.