New Delhi: Industry body Assocham on Wednesday
alleged that unfriendly behaviour 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missions abroad, coupled with outdated norms, are preventing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
behaviour, 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.
Assocham 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
visa or delay or decline. It is the practice generally
followed in Indian Missions abroad, Assocham said.
There is need to formulate clear instructions, including
revised guidelines, to all those who deal with these matters
in India's Missions abroad.
Bureau Report
First Published: Wednesday, October 28, 2009, 23:32