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Italy may open visa office in Chandigarh

Photo: PTI

Forging new bonds: Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal presenting a memento to Ambassador of Italy Antonio Armellini at Chandigarh on Saturday.

CHANDIGARH: Italy may shortly open its visa office in Chandigarh to cater to a growing demand for visas from the people in Punjab who seek to migrate in search of employment opportunities.

An indication to this effect was given by the Italian Ambassador to India, Antonio Armellini, during an hour-long meeting with Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal here on Saturday. He was responding to a request in this regard from Mr. Badal.

The visa office initially may be at the level of an Honorary Consulate and is likely to be opened as soon as the Union Government gives its clearance, he said.

Mr. Antonio was accompanied by the Italian Consul in New Delhi, Gabriele Annis.

In their talks, both Mr. Badal and Mr. Antonio agreed on the need to put in place a legal procedure to ensure that young people aspiring to migrate are not exploited by unscrupulous agents at home and employers abroad.

The Chief Minister also said that the State Government was in the process of bringing in legislation to regulate the functioning of travel agents in Punjab.

Asserting that the doors of his country are open for skilled Punjabi manpower, Mr. Antonio particularly sought greater cooperation in the fields of agriculture, agro-processing machine tools and horticulture.

Mr. Badal sought Italian cooperation in the field of education, especially at the school level.

Responding to the Chief Minister’s point, the envoy said Italy was willing to cooperate with the Central and the State governments to facilitate tie-ups between educational institutions on both sides.

The visiting Ambassador said his country had a special stake in Punjab as more than 80 per cent of the Indians migrating to Italy come from the State.

He said most of them are prospering and are well-integrated with the host society.

“Some of them were willing to contribute pro-actively to promote economic, cultural and social inter-relations between the Government of Italy and the Government and people of Punjab,” he said.

However, many of those who had illegally migrated were facing hardships and were subjected to exploitation and blackmail for shelter and meagrely employment, he pointed out.

The envoy said this was entirely avoidable as his country really welcomes the enterprising Punjabi migrants who came there after following proper procedure.

He also extended an invitation to Mr. Badal to visit Italy which the Chief Minister accepted. – PTI.

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