India is positioning itself as a key global supplier of skilled talent, and countries like Germany, Japan, the UAE, and several EU nations are leading the charge in seeking to tap into India’s workforce. External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar made this clear at the launch of the Global Access to Talent from India (GATI) Foundation in New Delhi, where he highlighted growing international demand for Indian workers.
“The world is looking for skilled talent, and India has the supply. Our goal is to create structured, legal pathways to meet this demand,” FM Jaishankar said, underlining India’s commitment to ethical and efficient migration processes.
Germany at the Forefront of Talent Mobility
Germany’s commitment to scaling up its recruitment of Indian workers was highlighted during Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s visit to India in 2024. Dr. Jaishankar revealed that Germany has expressed its intent to increase Indian employment in critical sectors by four times, particularly in fields such as healthcare, engineering, IT, and manufacturing.
“Germany has shown a keen interest in Indian talent. Their efforts to bring in skilled professionals are clear, and we are working together to facilitate this,” said the FM, referring to discussions around expanding the Indo-German talent mobility corridor.
Germany, with its aging population and shrinking workforce, sees India as an essential partner in addressing its labour shortages, making the Indo-German migration partnership more critical than ever.
Other Major Countries Also Seek Indian Workers
Along with Germany, countries like Japan, Italy, Spain, Austria, and Greece are also vying to recruit Indian skilled labour. Dr. Jaishankar mentioned that India has signed migration and mobility agreements with over 50 countries, with key nations such as Mauritius, Singapore, and Malaysia already actively hiring Indian professionals in sectors ranging from IT to construction.
“Countries across the globe are seeking Indian talent. Japan, for example, is finalizing an action plan to facilitate a regular flow of skilled workers, while nations in Europe and the Gulf are looking to India to meet their workforce demands,” FM stated.
Dr. Jaishankar also pointed to Israel’s agreement with India to send 42,000 workers to the construction sector, further underlining the growing global appetite for skilled Indian workers.
India’s Strategic Focus on Legal and Ethical Migration
Dr. Jaishankar stressed the importance of ensuring that Indian workers have access to safe, legal migration pathways to prevent exploitation. The government has committed to strengthening grievance redressal mechanisms and creating support structures for overseas workers facing challenges such as wage theft or unfair working conditions.
“Irregular migration not only harms the workers but also undermines national interests. We must ensure that migration is legal, ethical, and beneficial to both individuals and the countries they move to,” FM remarked.
As part of its mission to streamline migration, the Indian government is also in the process of updating the Emigration Act of 1983 to better align with modern migration trends.
India’s Vision: Becoming the World’s Leading Talent Hub
With its vast pool of skilled professionals, India is now positioning itself as a Global Talent Hub. The GATI Foundation, launched with the support of organizations such as The Convergence Foundation and TeamLease Services, aims to facilitate the ethical and scalable movement of talent from India to key markets like Germany.
“India is ready to play a pivotal role in meeting the growing demand for skilled workers worldwide,” Dr. Jaishankar concluded, emphasizing that the country’s skilling strategy will evolve to meet global needs.
As India strengthens its labour partnerships with Germany and other key nations, the Indo-German talent corridor is set to be a model of mutual benefit, addressing both global labour shortages and the professional aspirations of Indian workers.
