Govt to extend easy visa rules to all PLI sector companies: DPIIT secretary

The PLI scheme covers 14 sectors, including mobile phones, drones, white goods, telecommunications, textiles, automobiles, specialty steel, and pharmaceutical drugs, among others

The government is working towards streamlining the application process for Indian business visas for companies that are not beneficiaries under the production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme but have set up manufacturing units across the 14 sectors covered under the scheme.

“We have already got a streamlined process for PLI beneficiaries. We’re trying to get it extended to other non-PLI beneficiaries, which are operating in those same strategic sectors. We are in the process of drawing up a similar streamlined process for those kinds of non-PLI beneficiaries in the PLI sector as well,” Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh said on Thursday. DPIIT comes under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
 

“A final decision in this regard hasn’t been taken but we’re moving in that direction. Hopefully it will be done…Visa is a subject matter of external affairs ministry and home ministry,” the industry secretary said.
 

The PLI scheme covers 14 sectors, including mobile phone, drone, white goods, telecommunications, textiles, automobiles, specialty steel, and pharmaceutical drugs, among others.
 

Earlier this week, Commerce and Industry minister Piyush Goyal had told Business Standard that the government is expediting visa-related issues to get technicians to India not only from China but from any country, as and when required, to ensure smooth implementation of the PLI scheme.
 

The industry has been seeking the government’s intervention in resolving visa-processing delays related to Chinese vendors involved in manufacturing projects.
 

Companies have been facing productivity issues due to visa hurdles in areas ranging from component manufacturing to installation or repair of machinery, especially under the PLI scheme.
 

Several ministries and government departments have been addressing the outstanding visa-related issues pertaining to experts and technicians from China with the Ministry of External Affairs. DPIIT has also been coordinating matters with the external affairs ministry.

For Smooth Sail
 

> Process to be streamlined  for non-PLI beneficiaries in PLI sectors

> Companies have been facing productivity issues due to visa hurdles 

> Centre expediting visa issues to get technicians to India, commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal had said recently

> 14 sectors under PLI include mobile phones, drones, white goods, telecom, textiles, automobiles, and pharmaceutical drugs