New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced Friday that Germany has raised its annual visa quota for Indian professionals from 20,000 to 90,000, as reported by Business Standard. This 3.5-fold increase reflects Germany’s growing demand for skilled workers from India, expanding opportunities for Indian professionals in Europe’s largest economy.

Speaking at the 18th Asia-Pacific Conference of German Business 2024 in Delhi, Modi highlighted that this move would bolster economic cooperation and support Germany’s economic growth.

The announcement comes amid German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s three-day visit to India, during which he and Modi held one-on-one meetings at the Prime Minister’s official residence. Scholz’s visit is set to conclude today, Saturday, October 26, 2024.

This marks Scholz’s third visit to India since he became Chancellor in 2021, with his previous visit occurring in September 2023 for the G20 Leaders’ Summit.

Today, India and Germany will host the 7th Intergovernmental Consultation, focusing on enhanced security and defense partnerships, increased talent mobility, and furthering economic cooperation. Additionally, Scholz will travel to Goa to welcome two German naval vessels, the frigate Baden-Württemberg and the support ship Frankfurt am Main, as part of Germany’s Indo-Pacific deployment.