Evian,France, 17 June (H.S.):
US President Donald Trump on Wednesday said highly skilled Indian professionals would receive greater opportunities in the United States, reaffirming the importance of the India-US partnership during his bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Évian, France.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Trump described India as a nation with exceptionally talented people and said skilled Indian professionals would continue to play an important role in the United States. Although he did not announce any new immigration measures, his remarks were seen as a positive signal for Indian engineers, technology professionals, researchers, doctors and other highly skilled workers seeking career opportunities in the US.
Trump's comments come at a time when the movement of skilled professionals remains a key issue in India-US relations. Indian nationals account for the majority of H-1B visa recipients, making any indication of Washington's approach to skilled immigration closely watched by Indian professionals and businesses.
The US President also noted that the two countries were making significant progress in negotiations on a bilateral trade agreement. He said both sides were very close to finalising a deal, underscoring the importance of expanding economic cooperation between the world's two largest democracies.
Describing his discussions with Prime Minister Modi as very good, Trump praised the Indian leader as one of the toughest negotiators he has dealt with. He said the close relationship between New Delhi and Washington had continued to strengthen and added that he looked forward to visiting India in the future.
On defence cooperation, Trump reiterated the United States' commitment to its strategic partnership with India. He said Washington would stand by India if it came under attack, highlighting the growing security cooperation between the two countries amid evolving geopolitical challenges.
Trump's remarks also followed the recent rejection of a proposal that sought to impose a federal fee of $100,000 on companies employing H-1B visa holders. The proposal had drawn criticism from technology companies and industry groups, who argued that it would discourage the recruitment of highly skilled foreign professionals and adversely affect innovation.
While no formal immigration policy changes were announced during the G7 Summit, Trump's statements offered reassurance to Indian professionals amid continuing uncertainty over future US visa policies. His comments reflected Washington's broader intention to deepen cooperation with India across trade, investment, technology, defence and people-to-people ties.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
