India allows EU banks to open 15 branches in 4 yrs

New Delhi: India has agreed to allow EU banks to open 15 branches over four years, while binding foreign direct investment in insurance at 100%, the newly liberalised ceiling, in return for a more stable visa regime for its employees and professionals working in member countries.

A relaxation on bank branches was not given to the UK under the FTA signed last year, although concessions have been offered to New Zealand. Officials also said concessions offered to senior management and board members are in line with existing provisions related to national treatment.

The EU has also allowed AYUSH practitioners, with doctors also being given permission to open clinics and wellness centres, officials said. AYUSH professionals will be able to offer services using the professional qualification they gain in India.

Across sectors, intra-corporate transferees will be eligible for three-year visas, which can be extended by another two years, with benefits also available to spouses and dependents, an official said. This move will be a benefit for Indian IT companies or multinationals that have a presence in India or the EU member nations. There are also commitments by EU in 37 sub-sectors for contractual workers and for independent professionals in 17 sectors.

“It is the best offer that EU has given to anyone. It is on lines of what is available for UK, which has a special relationship with EU,” an official said. In FTA with India, EU has opened 144 of the 155 services sub-sectors, while India has offered to liberalise 102.

FTA will also provide a further boost to setting up of GCCs, given the focus on electronic delivery of services. .Further, they said the social security agreements will help Indian professionals and workers going to EU for work. While India has social security agreements with 13 of the 27 member countries, it is negotiating with seven more. The pending ones, 14 in all, will need to be finalised over next five years for some of the tariff concessions to flow.