Prime Minister Narendra Modi is exporting India's workforce as countries slow immigration. The Indian government is signing labor mobility agreements with Russia, Israel, New Zealand, Finland, and the European Union.
Modi's push for labor exports has become an important source of government finances, as remittances account for roughly 3% of India's GDP. Unlike China, which is bringing back its workers, India is unable to provide cutting-edge opportunities for its highly skilled labor force.
However, this policy does not come without resistance, especially at a time when anti-immigration sentiment is rising worldwide. New Zealand's Prime Minister Christopher Luxon hailed the free trade deal with India that also enhances labor mobility for Indian workers, but the deal faces opposition.
The U.S., one of the biggest recipients of Indian workers, is tightening visa rules, which gives India added incentive to strike labor mobility deals.
