‘Let more Indian students into Britain’ Indian PM hits out at May's immigration crackdown
INDIAN Prime Minister Narendra Modi today appeared to call on Theresa May to let more students from his country study in Britain.
He commented amid dismay in India at Britain's immigration crackdowns which are hitting non-European migrants as EU nationals cannot now be stopped from moving to Britain until we leave the bloc.
Ahead of Mrs May’s visit, an Indian government spokesman this weekend called on the Prime Minister to respond to concerns about Indian visa availability generally following a further tightening of various visa rules, adding:
"We are concerned that the number of Indian students in Britain is declining and that visa regulations are so much more stringent."
Appearing with Mr Modi to open a UK-India technology summit in New Delhi today, Mrs May underlined her desire to continue and boost trade between their countries.
"It is crucial that those who do need to travel between our countries for business can do so," she said.
En route to India on Sunday Mrs May responded to Indian calls to be granted more visas by insisting Britain's system for issuing visas to Indians was "good", a message she underlined at the tech summit.
She told delegates that as Home Secretary she had made the Indian visa process "much easier" as she underlined a new offer for Indian business travellers to get through UK passport control quickly on landing in the UK.
However, she made no mention of students.
In his own address to the summit, Mr Modi then made what appeared a barely coded reference to the student visa row.
Stressing the importance of further education, Mr Modi added: "Education is vital for our students and will define our engagement in a shared future.
"We must therefore encourage greater mobility and participation of young people in education and research opportunities."
Mrs May said she wanted to boost trade with India while we are in the EU as well as help pave the way for a stronger relationship when we leave the bloc - stressing Britain would "stagnate" unless it remained outward looking after Brexit.
"I will be discussing with Prime Minister Modi how we can increase the detail and depth of our trade and investment discussions, and identify what more we can do, now, to unleash our businesses, industries, exporters and investors," she said. "This does not need to wait for us to leave the EU."
Underlining why free trade was so important, she added: "That is because free trade creates a rising tide that lifts all boats. It makes us all richer. It creates jobs. It increases investment. It improves productivity. It transforms living standards and creates opportunities for all of our citizens.
Theresa May: UK - EU relationship must BENEFIT economy
"These are the reasons we believe in free trade. It’s why – as Britain leaves the EU – we’re determined not to turn our backs on the world but to forge a new, global, outward-looking role for ourselves.
"Because we know from history what happens when countries do not embrace the opportunities of the world. They stagnate. They get poorer. They don’t protect their people; they make them worse off.
"Of course, no country owes any other country a living. But we stand the greatest chance of success when we work with partners with whom we share similar values, legal systems, approaches to business, and ways of looking at the world."
Britain yesterday announced the next stage in the trading of so-called "masala bonds", denominated in rupees, to be listed on the London Stock Exchange.
The four new bonds, worth some £600,000,000, are expected to be listed in the next three months.
The government says it will further strengthen London's status as the world's leading financial centre as well as strengthening UK-India ties.
The bond plan was first announced last year and since July over £900,000,000 worth have been issued in London.
The bonds are used by firms to raise money from overseas markets, like London, denominated in rupees.
The new bonds will help finance an expansion of India's highway and rail networks as well as energy efficiency plans.
Mrs May said: “This is another vote of confidence in our world-leading financial services and further proof that Britain is open for business."