business : SOP to facilitate visa for Chinese technicians required in manufacturing units in final stage

business : After formulating a standard operating procedure (SOP) to streamline visa approvals for Chinese professionals whose expertise is needed by vendors under the PLI scheme, the government is in the final stages of implementing a similar process for other manufacturing units, an official said. The move assumes significance as some domestic manufacturing firms have raised the issue of delays in getting visas for Chinese technicians who need to be hired to replace workers in India.

Training Apart from providing visas, some visas are required for works like installation or repair of machines. The official said, “Most of the cases of PLI (Production-Linked Incentive Scheme) visas have been resolved. Even for general manufacturing, we are trying to make a better streamlined SOP… which is with the Home Ministry. It is in the final stages. We are hoping to resolve it. We have taken a lot of sensitivity.” The official said that no approval from the Union Cabinet is required to implement the SOP.

Because it is an internal process to “slightly” relax norms to facilitate visa applications of Chinese professionals or technicians whose expertise is needed by domestic manufacturing units. Normally, these experts are granted visas for 3-6 months. Need Appreciating the move, an industry official said the SOP will prove to be very helpful as these manufacturing units require some expertise from Chinese professionals. Rafiq Ahmed, Chennai-based leading footwear manufacturer and chairman of Farida Group, said, “The SOP will be a very good decision. Chinese technicians are working in the footwear sector in countries like Vietnam and Cambodia. They are also cheaper than Taiwanese or other experts. This will help us increase our production.”

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