Cisco backs India’s move to challenge US visa rule

Supporting India’s move to challenge H-1B visa fee hike by the US at the World Trade Organisation (WTO), American technology major Cisco on Friday said since it was election time in the US, emotive issues were being raised, adding that one should wait for resolution of such issues.

“When people talk about job loss or global trade agreements or H-1B immigration issues, it’s an emotional time in an election year. So, I very much understand. I think it is a logical move by India to bring this to the WTO and say ‘how do you address that?” John Chambers, Executive Chairman, Cisco, said.

Chambers, who is also the Chairman of US-India Business Council, said the relationship between the two countries remains strong and they are ‘partners for life’.

“Just like an election year in your country, you will have to be a little more patient with us…I am a huge believer in immigration and I am a huge believer in bringing in talent from around the world,” he said.

India had recently notified the WTO that ‘it has initiated a dispute proceeding against the US regarding measures imposing increased fees on certain applicants for L-1 and H-1B categories of non-immigrant temporary working visas into the US, and measures relating to numerical commitments for H-1B visas’.

Meanwhile, Cisco also announced investment of over $100 million, including $40 million to fund early-stage and growth companies in the country and train 2.50 lakh students in India by 2020.

It will collaborate closely with State governments on strategic initiatives, including the addition of six new innovation labs, three centres of expertise, funds university collaborations and skills investments.

As part of the company's commitment to accelerate India’s digital transformation, the company will expand the Cisco Networking Academy programme to help India increase its pool of highly skilled technology professionals and expand its accessibility to education, research and technology.

“Education and internet are two equalisers in life. With our increased investments in education and innovation, we are harnessing the power of technology to launch a generation of problem solvers who will innovate like technologists, think like entrepreneurs and act as social change agents,” he said.

Chambers, who met Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier in the day, said the latter complimented the company’s initiatives in areas such as long-distance education.

He said though there are some hurdles in policies and technology acceptance in India, in the long run, the country and its people would benefit because of the works done by the Centre, States and corporates.

On policies, regulations and issues such as Net neutrality, Chambers said regulations need to be in sync with changes in technology, adding that he was a supporter of the principle of Net neutrality as everyone should have access to the internet.

“Regulators and law makers have to understand that the decisions that they make today can’t be the decisions that they would have made few years ago. They have to be educated about the implications and eventual fallouts. Governments, regulators and industry will have to come together and work together on this,” he added.