Despite doing business worth billions of dollars with China, Indian Home Ministry jittery in granting long-term visas to Chinese businessmen

There seems to be some gap between Modi’s ambition and his Home Ministry’s intentions. India’s home ministry is reluctant to launch BRICS Business Travel Card (BBTC), which is aimed to improve public-private partnerships among the five emerging economies of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

While the Prime Minister has been pitching for a liberalised travel regime among BRICS countries, the Home Ministry has cited security concerns to express reservations about giving long-term business visas to Chinese nationals.

"The home ministry wants to hold detailed consultations with other stakeholders before giving in to the demand of the external affairs ministry," an official told the Economic Times, requesting anonymity. At present, India gives a two-month single entry visa and six-month multiple entry visas to businessmen from China.

During the tenure of the previous UPA government, a decision was taken to extend the tenure of multiple visas to one year. However, it could not be implemented.

As per the memorandum of understanding on simplification of visa procedures signed between India and China, business persons from China require a letter of invitation from a recognised Indian organisation for multiple entry visa while the single entry visa is issued on production of a letter of request from an authorised Chinese organisation, according to the ET.

India already provides a five-year visa to nationals of the other BRICS nations, apart from multiple entry business visas valid up to one year.
Home ministry officials said that while there is unanimity over giving five-year business visas to people from the other nations in the bloc, excluding China from the pool will lead to further confrontation with the neighbouring country.

"We also want that China should reciprocate in case a decision to grant longterm visa is taken," said an official, adding that setting up an exclusive zone for BBTC will require technological upgrade and upkeep of records.

For BBTC, it has been proposed that the details of business persons from BRICS countries be in the form of a magnetic chip. This will contain all the information regarding the person including on passport and visa, thus facilitating a paperless journey and stay in India.

(Image: Reuters)