UK immigration laws to be student, business friendly

London Chamber of Commerce and Industry chairman Subhash V Thakrar, who is heading a trade mission coinciding with London Mayor Boris Johnson's India visit, today said the UK immigration laws were being changed to facilitate smooth entry for students, international businessmen and tourists from India.

Issues like difficulty in transferring of employees by companies have already been eased. They are now lobbying with the Indian government to further change the immigration rules to cut down red tape in granting Visas, besides proposing no separate Visa for a European Visa holder to enter the UK among other things, according to him.

Abuse of Visa permits by economic migrants had led to an adverse political response in the UK. This even stopped students from the Indian subcontinent and Africa from coming into the country for study purpose through the quota system, he said.

Thakrar, who is also a senior partner of Blackstone Franks LLP, said the trade levels between India and UK had slipped to 18 position and lower from the earlier fifth position and this situation was not desirable for the businesses of both the countries. "However, it is more to do with British businessmen," he said, adding the current downturn in the UK offered a good opportunity to Indian companies to set up their businesses there.

Similarly, British companies are also looking forward to investment opportunities and collaborations in India, he said. Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Andhra Pradesh chairperson Suchitra Yella hosted an interactive meeting between UK trade delegates and representatives of local companies at Hyderabad on Tuesday.