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Brussels-based Europe India Chamber of Commerce has criticized the European Union's restrictive visa policy towards Indian business people and called for improvements, an official source reported
According to the Secretary General of the Euro-India trade body Sunil Prasad, "This goes against the spirit of EU-India strategic partnership as due to the visa restriction it has become practically impossible for Indian business people to fulfill setting up businesses in Europe and also to conclude any business collaboration."
There have been increasing number of complaints by Indian businessmen facing problems in getting EU Schengen visa and the high-handed manner in which they are sometimes treated, particularly at airports and border crossing points by immigration officials in Europe.
Prasad said that on one hand the EU wants the bilateral trade with India to reach 160 billion Euros by 2015 and free trade agreement signed by 2010 and on the other hand it is posing hurdles and preventing Indian business to enhance its trade ties with the European Union.
He also said, "This approach to the visa issue to Indian business is going to be the single most spoiling factor to achieve this target."
Prasad also urged for the harmonization of visa procedures by the EU countries in India and has also called for effective means to improve the system.
A Schengen visa holder can travel to any or all countries (currently 22 EU countries and three non-EU European countries) in the Schengen area using one single visa.
Prasad, who is also serving as the president of the Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) Belgium, said that in the current global financial crisis in Europe, EU needs business collaboration and improving trade with India more than what India needs from Europe. "And, this has to be understood by the EU countries with a sense of urgency," he added. The Economic Times
March 24, 2009
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