"Visa rules and procedures, and grant of work permits should be facilitated without making them prisoners of labour market tests, economic need tests and other related impediments of market access under Mode 4," Commerce Minister Kamal Nath said.
Addressing 55th annual function of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, he said India was also engaged in negotiations for economic cooperation agreements with various countries and trading blocs, which would create market access opportunities for Indian professionals.
"In each of these agreements necessary steps are being taken to work out Mutual Recognition Agreements with professional associations of the countries concerned," Nath said.
He said another area of opportunity for professionals like Chartered Accountants would be Mode 1 (cross-border supply of services through electronic means without the actual movement of people).
"Considerable amount of work is now undertaken through back office operations. This has provided employment to a large number of people," Nath said.
He said back office operations and other business process outsourcing services in India, which amounted to $2 billion in 2002, would rise eleven-fold to $22 billion by the year 2008.
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