Sunday, March 6 2005 11:19 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

London: India may emerge as a preferred source of skilled labour for the UK, if the recommendations of the eighth meeting of the India-UK Round Table are accepted by the British Government.

Lord Swraj Paul, who is stepping down as Co-Chairman of the Round Table after over five years, submitted the recommendations of its meeting held in Bolton Abbey, Yorkshire last month to Foreign Secretary Jack Straw for necessary follow up action, official sources said last night (Mar 5, 2005).

The Round Table has recommended to the Government to make an analysis of the future labour market requirements of the UK "with a view to the establishment of India as a preferred source of skilled labour, taking account of India's own employment and skills needs."

It said that serious attempts should be made to assess the labour market requirements in both countries and regulations should permit the free flow of workers in strong demand, especially professionals.

"Educational institutions in India were concentrating on qualifications, which met international standards, a further argument in favour of lowering barriers to cross-border movement of skilled workers and graduates. The UK had loosened its regulations on foreign students working both during and after their studies but a perceived lack of transparency still caused problems for them," the Round Table felt.

It recommended that every effort should be made to facilitate travel between India and Britain, particularly for students, businessmen, research scholars and professionals, for example, through further improvements in the processing of visas and the issue of work permits.

The Round Table observed that India was "going global" in a big way. "The mindset of Indians was changing radically. Growth of trade with China had been exponential. A free trade agreement between the two countries was under discussion. The relationship with the USA was being transformed across a broad front."

Suggesting commissioning of a study at the earliest on the scope for greater cooperation in healthcare between India and the UK, the Round Table observed that the attitudes towards healthcare provision were changing in both countries.

It was noted that the UK National Health Service (NHS) had already been looking at the Indian market and reliance on remote diagnostics could reduce costs substantially.

"The economics of patient movement might make treatment in India a real attraction. There was substantial potential benefit for Britain from the growth of this sector in India: investment by UK healthcare providers, technical regulatory support and the supply of hospitals, equipment and even insurance," the Round Table felt.

Underlining importance of much closer contact between younger people for future growth of business links between the two countries, it recommended that the Indo-British Partnership and other relevant UK bodies should pursue efforts to increase contacts between Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in both countries and also connect the platform of young people in India with their counterparts in the UK.

The Round Table recommended that leaders of Indian firms investing in the UK and British companies investing in India should be enlisted widely to publicise overall attractions of investment in each other's country, notably, at the annual investment conference to change negative perceptions in the UK about investment in India.