All PLI-related visas being fast-tracked, says Piyush Goyal

Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal

The government is expediting all visa-related issues to bring technicians from other countries and not just China, as and when required, to ensure the smooth implementation of production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme, commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal has said.

“If those under the PLI scheme need to get their equipment installed, we try to expedite the ability to get technicians into India from any country, whichever it may be,” Goyal said in an interview to Business Standard.

The statement comes against the backdrop of the industry seeking government intervention in resolving visa-related delays to Chinese vendors.

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Companies have been facing productivity issues due to visa delays in sectors such as component manufacturing, installation and repair of machinery, especially under the PLI scheme.

These delays have affected the PLI scheme in sectors such as solar PV modules, speciality steel and white goods.

Two weeks ago, the government said it is in the final stages to put in place similar processes for other manufacturing units after putting place a standard operating procedure (SOP) for streamlining visa approvals for Chinese professionals whose expertise is required by vendors under the PLI scheme.

”Most of the PLI visas have been taken care of. For general manufacturing also, we are trying to create a better streamlined SOP… that is with the Ministry of Home Affairs. It’s at the final stages. We are hoping to sort it out. We have done a lot of sensitisation,” an official said.