Proposed UK visa curbs will hit Indian IT companies hard, Sharma tells London Mayor

The new measures that the UK government has proposed on the visa front will affect the prospects of Indian IT companies that are using the United Kingdom as a base for servicing their investments in Europe, minister of commerce, industry and textiles Anand Sharma told visiting mayor of London today.

The UK government has proposed a cap on non-EU immigrants across the European Union, including the United Kingdom. This, Sharma said, will chock flow of human capital, which in turn will affect the profitability and competitiveness of Indian companies.

''While we appreciate that UK may have reasons for introducing a cap on non-EU economic immigrants, our concern is to ensure that these measures do not adversely affect the growing trade and economic partnership between our two countries,'' Sharma said.

Likewise, the recent measures over student visas by the British government, including on post-study work visas may make it difficult for Indian students to pursue university education in UK, Sharma said.

The Lord Mayor and the UK side expressed appreciation for Indian understanding and informed the Indian minister about UK's commitment to encourage people-to-people contact between the two countries and work towards removing hindrances.

Sharma also conveyed the Indian government's concerns regarding the fate of Indian students affected by UK Border Agency's (UKBA) decision to revoke London Metropolitan University (LMU)'s licence to admit non-EU international students.