At the Global Access to Talent from India (GATI) event in New Delhi, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar highlighted India’s expanding global footprint in talent mobility and underscored the strategic importance of its skilled workforce on the world stage.
He acknowledged that one of the Ministry of External Affairs’ core duties is to link India’s talent pool with opportunities worldwide. Reflecting on India’s developmental journey, Jaishankar noted that historically, the country did not fully harness its human capital. He also stressed that India’s development path differs from that of other Asian economies, meaning its growth model and enablers must be uniquely tailored.
He pointed out that India has now entered a new era of consistent and large-scale talent generation. However, the next challenge lies in nurturing, expanding, deploying, and upgrading this talent base effectively.
Highlighting the widespread presence of Indians abroad, Jaishankar spoke of the tech professionals and entrepreneurs in the US, self-employed workers and blue-collar employees in Europe and North America, and researchers and scientists globally. He also acknowledged India’s growing contribution to international sectors like seafaring, aviation, and hospitality.
He stated that the global demand for skilled labor from India is no longer a future possibility—it is a present reality. Supporting this, he shared a recent discussion with the Speaker of Japan’s National Assembly, who advocated for a structured and predictable flow of skilled Indian workers to Japan. Countries like Israel, Mauritius, Malaysia, Singapore, and Germany were also named as examples of nations actively engaging with India to meet their talent needs.
The event, hosted by the GATI Foundation, a nonprofit focused on creating pathways for overseas employment from India, provided a platform to further the dialogue around India’s pivotal role in the global talent ecosystem.
