Industry body Assoc ham today alleged that unfriendly behavior by visa officials in Indian missions abroad, coupled with outdated norms, are preventing investors from coming to India thus “killing” the country’s prospects of attracting foreign direct investment.
“Officials accountable for issuance of visas in most of Indian Missions overseas go on treating visa seekers with a behavior, which is least friendly and often amounts to killing India’s prospects of becoming a lead nation for absorption of FDIs,” the chamber said.
It also said that due to the old norms followed by the Indian missions for issuance of visa to investors that intend to visit the country for business purposes are disrupting smooth inflows of foreign investment into the country.
Assoc ham said about 100 businessmen from the sectors such as telecom, power; oil and gas, roads and ports have approached the chamber to take up this matter with the Home Ministry.
“Foreign nationals, who are either employed by the foreign investors or those who may be owning and operating business in India, often complain against visa issuance practices and procedures in Indian Missions abroad,” it said.
The officials either issue a single-entry six monthly visas or delay or decline. It is the practice generally followed in Indian Missions abroad, Assoc ham said.
There is need to formulate clear instructions, including revised guidelines, to all those who deal with these matters in India’s Missions abroad.
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