EAM’s address at the Human Mobility Partnership Forum in New Delhi (30 June 2026)

Secretary (CPV & OIA), Sripriya Ranganathan Ji,

Members of the Diplomatic Corps,

My colleagues from the Ministry of External Affairs, from the Protectorate General of Emigrants, from other Government departments and Ministries,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good afternoon and namaskar

I am really very glad to address the Human Resource Mobility Forum this afternoon and I extend my warm welcome to all participants. We are gathered here to deliberate on a consequential issue of our time—which is skill based human resource mobility across borders.

Now, we all know that the world is undergoing a profound transformation. And as part of that, demographic patterns are changing sharply across continents. Technological innovation is reshaping industries at an unprecedented pace. Artificial intelligence, automation, digitalization, and green transition are also redefining skills that are required for tomorrow's economy. But the challenges of yesteryears also remain with us, be they of health, manufacturing, construction or agriculture. At the same time, societies are becoming increasingly interconnected, and the ability of nations to think creatively will significantly influence their prospects for future prosperity.

So, against this backdrop, the movement of talent and skills has acquired increased importance. For much of modern history, economic discussions have centred around trade, investments, and the movement of goods and capital. But now, human resource has emerged as one of the most critical factors of economic development. Countries are increasingly recognizing that access to skilled and adaptable talent is essential for sustaining growth, fostering innovation, and maintaining productivity. In fact, we would even say, for maintaining their quality of life.

Human resource mobility therefore represents far more than the movement of people from one place to another. It is about connecting aspirations with opportunities. It is about linking talent with demand. It is about creating pathways through which individuals can contribute to economic progress, and this is the bottomline; it is both economic growth and social wellbeing that we are talking about.

Now, India's vision for mobility is not limited to facilitating overseas employment opportunities. We infact view mobility as a very important pillar of international cooperation. These partnerships are based on mutual benefit, shared responsibility, and long-term sustainability. When managed effectively, such partnerships create value for the source countries, for the destination countries, for employers, for workers, for communities.

We also recognise the need for bilateral collaborations in ensuring safe, orderly and legal migration. As on date India has signed 28 Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreements (MMPAs) or their equivalents with 26 countries and several others are currently under negotiation. Equally important is the collective responsibility of nations to combat illegal migration, exploitative practices, fraudulent intermediaries, and human trafficking. These challenges compromise the credibility of legal mobility ecosystems and can place vulnerable individuals at risk.

One key pillar which has brought about a transformation in the governance of migration has been the use of digital systems and tools. Just two years back, we had launched eMigrate V.2 platform with better functionalities and services, creating a safer, more transparent and legal structure for mobility. India's commitment to safe and legal mobility is reflected in the eMigrate platform. And since its inception, more than 50 lakh i.e. five million emigration clearances have been issued. This digital ecosystem has become a global example of leveraging technology to protect migrant workers while facilitating mobility.

As we now look towards the future, several emerging trends deserve our attention. Advances in artificial intelligence and automation are expected to transform labour markets across many geographies and many sectors. While some occupations may undergo significant change, entirely new categories of employment will also emerge. The green economy will create demands for new skills and capabilities. But as I said, the orthodox demands also continue. Healthcare and care giving services will become especially important with ageing populations. So the silver economy is as important as the tech one.

These developments require governments, industry, educational institutions, and international organizations to work together much closely than they have ever done before. We must develop mechanisms that anticipate future workforce requirements. We must strengthen systems that support continuous learning and skill adaptation. We must also facilitate greater recognition of qualifications and competencies across jurisdictions. Above all, we must ensure that workers are prepared not just for today's opportunities, but also for the demands of tomorrow.

The welfare and the protection of our people obviously remains the fundamental guiding principle of our migration governance. The ICWF, the Indian Community Welfare Fund, responsive consular services and our MADAD, eMigrate and other portals by addressing the grievances have helped ensure timely assistance to our nationals overseas.

The Human Resource Mobility Forum provides an important platform to advance all these objectives. By bringing together policymakers, industry leaders, employers, and practitioners, the Forum creates opportunities to exchange ideas, learn from experiences, and explore new approaches towards mobility. Such a dialogue I believe is essential because the opportunities and challenges associated with mobility transcend national boundaries. No country can address them in isolation. And no department within the Government similarly can do it alone.

We have today chosen five countries I believe for detailed discussion on deepening collaborations which already exists based on the mobility agreements which we have signed in the recent past. The emphasis here would be to discuss the ways by which mobility agreements which have been signed and the implementation mechanisms that are envisaged may be put to good use for our mutual benefits.

India stands ready to work with its partners around the world in advancing our shared vision. We believe that trusted mobility pathways can contribute to stronger economies, to more resilient societies, and to deeper international cooperation. We believe that mobility, when guided by fairness and responsibility, can really serve as a powerful force for inclusive growth and human progress.

I am confident that the Human Resource Mobility Forum will generate valuable insights, will strengthen partnerships, and will contribute meaningfully to our collective efforts in shaping the future of global talent mobility.

So, I wish the Forum every success and I look forward to productive deliberations and meaningful outcomes and I am sure that your insights and recommendations would help us in our policy making.

Thank you.

Jai Hind, Jai Bharat.