Status: 02/26/2023 2:14 p.m
Chancellor Scholz wants to significantly expand the immigration of Indian IT specialists. This is intended to combat the German shortage of skilled workers and strengthen the relationship with India – also in order to become more independent of China.
In order to counteract the shortage of skilled workers in Germany, Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz wants to lower the hurdles for the immigration of skilled workers from India. It should be made easier for people from the IT industry in particular to work in this country. “The fact is that we want to simplify issuing visas,” said Scholz during a visit to the southern Indian metropolis of Bengaluru, which is considered India’s Silicon Valley.
According to Scholz, the conditions for this should be created this year. This should enable the immigration of skilled workers “on a large scale”.
Immigration without a job and knowledge of German
According to the plans, for example, it should be easier for specialists who are wanted in Germany to come to the country with their families. It should also initially be possible without a specific job offer. According to Scholz, the fact that skilled workers from India speak English more often than German and could therefore prefer other locations is not a problem. “It is clear that anyone who comes to Germany as an IT specialist can only easily converse with all their colleagues in English because many in Germany can speak English,” he said. German can be learned later.
While there is a shortage of skilled workers in Germany, there are no jobs for the young population in India. According to its own statements, the German embassy in New Delhi issued visas to around 2,500 to 3,000 specialists last year, most of them IT specialists. “I’m quite sure that many will and want to take advantage of the opportunities to work as skilled workers in Germany. We need that in all areas of employment,” said Scholz.
Outsourcing of software development to India “no problem”
Scholz visited the location of the IT company SAP and met Indians who will soon start a job in Germany. India is a high-tech nation, said the Chancellor. According to Scholz, the fact that many German companies are also relocating their software development to Bengaluru is not a problem, but part of the division of labour.
More business with India, less trade with China
Scholz and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi agreed yesterday to expand economic relations. “The investments are to be expanded, the number of employees is to be massively increased,” said Scholz, referring to the 1,800 German companies in India to date. Modi and he campaigned for an EU-India free trade agreement.
Germany also wants to make itself more independent of its largest trading partner China. India, with its almost 1.4 billion inhabitants, has long been considered a possible alternative. But protectionism and bureaucracy have made investments very difficult for years, for example for German car companies.
Closer cooperation on energy, IT, research and armaments
Both countries want to work more closely together in the areas of energy, IT development, research and development. Closer arms cooperation with India is also at stake. As the Reuters news agency reports, Scholz also wants to advance a multi-billion dollar submarine business. India wants to buy six conventional submarines worth 4.9 billion euros. The armaments company ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems is under discussion.
When asked if he had spoken to Modi about the submarine project, Scholz said: “Of course we also discussed specific projects. These are things that first have to be negotiated between the company and the customer, but of course they must be accompanied.”
Tie India more to the West
With his visit to India, Scholz not only wants to strengthen the relationship between the two countries. There is also hope that India will change its previously neutral stance on Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. The country has not yet condemned him for economic dependencies.
A step in this direction should also be India’s participation in the next G7 summit in Japan. Scholz was convinced that the host would invite countries like India. At the G7 summit in Elmau last year, Scholz also involved the heads of state and government of India, South Africa, Argentina and Senegal in the deliberations. The goal is to bring democracies closer together around the world – especially with regard to the Russian war of aggression and competition with China.