• India’s Department for Promotion of Industry launches new digital platform.
• Companies can generate sponsorship letters to invite foreign professionals.
• Visa forms simplified, and extra ministry approvals are no longer needed.
  

NEW DELHI: India has reformed its business visa regime to ease movement of foreign engineers and technicians, the government said in a statement, which will be a boost to local firms leaning on Chinese professionals for manufacturing services.

India’s Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade said late on Wednesday that it had launched a new digital platform last month for companies to generate sponsorship letters to invite foreign professionals, has simplified visa forms, and will no longer ask relevant ministries for additional recommendations.

The visas have been eased for factory installation, commissioning, maintenance, and production, among other functions. Indian businesses predominantly depend on Chinese professionals for such services and to train local staff, especially in factories that deploy Chinese machinery.

Reuters reported last week that India has cut red tape to speed up visas for Chinese professionals in signs of improved ties between the two nations.

India had blocked virtually all Chinese visits after the nuclear-armed neighbours clashed on their Himalayan frontier in mid-2020, widening its vetting of business visas beyond the home and foreign ministries.

The removal of red tape comes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited China this year for the first time in seven years, meeting Chinese President Xi Jinping and discussing ways to improve ties.

In the face of punishing US tariffs, Modi has cautiously rekindled ties with Beijing.

Think tank the Observer Research Foundation estimates the tougher scrutiny on visas led to production losses of $15 billion over four years to Indian electronics makers, which import key machinery from China.

Major Chinese electronics companies, such as Xiaomi, have also struggled to get visas. Industry executives have said such curbs hit their plans to expand in India, while the solar industry was also hit by shortages of skilled labour.

Hugh Jackman may have given a subtle hint about his secret role in the highly anticipated Avengers: Doomsday.

Jackman, who plays Wolverine in Marvel Cinematic Universe, claimed that he is not done with his role.

In an interview with The View, The Greatest Showman star, explained why he thinks his time with MCU is far from over.

On asking if it is “a clue that you’re gonna be in Avengers: Doomsday,” Jackman replied, “That’s not a clue.”

He went on to cover his face, adding, “Watch my face. Try to work this out. No.”

However, the Logan actor admitted that it “just doesn’t” feel like the end of the road for his character after going from 20th Century Fox era of superhero films into the MCU with the 2024 box office smash hit, Deadpool & Wolverine.

The Oscar nominee recalled that for five years while he had decided that he won’t play the character anymore, Ryan Reynolds kept on persuading him to make a comeback.

“And then I rang him one day and said, ‘I’m in,’” Jackman said. “And so I go with this — and that’s what my gut says — it’s not done. But that’s just me! Marvel might have different ideas.”

The Emmy winner comments came after the swirling speculations that he and Reynolds could potentially reprise their roles as Wolverine and Deadpool in Doomsday.

Previously, Reynolds also teased his fans with an Instagram post featuring a red anarchy symbol graffitied over the Avengers logo.

Another hint of Jackman playing part in the film, that he isn’t the only X-Men mutant getting in on the action if he joined the cast.

The film will see the return of Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Kelsey Grammer, Alan Cumming, Rebecca Romijn, and James Marsden in addition to Channing Tatum, who made his debut as Gambit in Deadpool & Wolverine and is now set to star in Avengers: Doomsday.

While Jackman’s role is yet to be confirmed, Avengers: Doomsday is slated for release on December 18, 2026.