Visa hike to choke US innovation, help India: Ex-G20 Sherpa Kant

New Delhi: The resolution to hike H-1B visa charges will choke US innovation and enhance India’s, former G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant stated Saturday. “By slamming the door on global talent, America pushes the next wave of labs, patents, innovation and startups to Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune, Gurgaon,” he wrote on X.“India’s finest doctors, engineers, scientists and innovators can contribute to India’s growth and progress towards #ViksitBharat. America’s loss will be India’s gain,” he added. Kant, ex-CEO of Niti Aayog, stated 85% of H-1B visas are utilized by US tech corporations. “Only one Indian company is in the top 10 H-1B sponsors. Big Tech-Amazon, Microsoft, Meta, Apple and Google-remain the top five,” Amitabh Kant instructed TOI.He stated Trump’s transfer raises prices and hurts innovation for US companies. “Hiring locally isn’t an option as talent isn’t available. Costs rise, policies lack predictability. Firms will open Global Capability Centres or offshore,” Kant stated. Top Indian IT companies have minimize H-1B filings 46% in 5 years, noting distant work makes offshoring simple.“They do this simply because the United States does not have the talent. There is a massive shortage of high-end skills in computing, engineering and deep science in USA. These skills can’t be created overnight,” added Kant.