Metal, power firms seek visa regime for expats on par with PLI beneficiaries: Report

The companies are currently experiencing issue with visa delays for foreign experts who are needed to help with important projects.

Metal and power companies have requested the government for a visa regime for expats, including those from China, similar to the one for players in the 14 sectors covered by the production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme, The Economic Times has reported.

These companies have complained of visa delays for foreign experts who are needed to help with important projects. The delay comes as private investments in these projects picks up.

The idea is to have a streamlined visa process to address foreign manpower issues, as with PLI beneficiaries, the report added.

Moneycontrol couldn't independently verify the report.

Also Read | High-level govt committee flags payment delay concerns in PLI schemes: Report

The manufacturers have flagged the issues to their administrative ministries and given some suggestions, the report said. They suggested a special cell and mechanism to ensure timely issue of visas for foreign experts as well as officials or engineers from overseas original equipment suppliers (OEMs).

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 PLI scheme, commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal said earlier this month.

Moneycontrol has reported that India plans to offer only short-term visas to Chinese technicians who will be allowed in the country for not more than six months to help with the implementation of project related to the flagship PLI scheme.

The PLI scheme covers 14 sectors, including mobile phones, drones, white goods, telecommunications, textiles, automotive, pharmaceutical drugs, among others. The plan that aims to boost the country's domestic manufacturing capacity has an outlay of Rs 1.97 trillion.