India Streamlined Visa Approvals for Chinese under the PLI Scheme

In an effort to facilitate the participation of Chinese professionals in the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, the government has introduced a standardized process to streamline visa approvals. This move aims to address concerns raised by stakeholders during a consultation meeting held in August.

Understanding the PLI Scheme

The Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme is a government program designed to encourage and incentivize manufacturing and production in specific sectors of the Indian economy.

It offers financial incentives to eligible manufacturers, rewarding them for achieving incremental production and quality standards.

The scheme targets strategic sectors to boost domestic manufacturing, increase exports, and reduce reliance on imports.

Stakeholder Concerns Addressed

During the stakeholder consultation meeting on the PLI scheme, certain players highlighted the challenges related to obtaining visas for Chinese professionals who are crucial for the success of the program.

Government’s Response

In response to these concerns, the government acknowledged the importance of resolving visa-related issues for vendors requiring the expertise of Chinese professionals. To address this, a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) has been developed for PLI units.

Streamlining Visa Approvals

With the newly established SOP, a systematic process has been put in place to simplify and expedite the approval of visas for Chinese professionals essential to the PLI scheme.

This measure is designed to facilitate the smooth operation of the program and support the 14 sectors covered by the PLI scheme, including telecommunications, white goods, textiles, medical devices, automobiles, speciality steel, food products, high-efficiency solar PV modules, advanced chemistry cell batteries, drones, and pharmaceuticals, with a total allocation of Rs 1.97 lakh crore in 2021.