Amid Strained Ties With China, India Set To Sign Mobility Pact With Taiwan In October

India and Taiwan are set to sign a migration and mobility pact in October to strengthen the bilateral ties and promoting greater people-to-people engagement.

This landmark agreement will facilitate smoother migration between the two nations, with a particular focus on cooperation in the semiconductor industry as India aims to establish a chip manufacturing industry, and Taiwan possesses the necessary expertise in this field.

The upcoming mobility pact has the potential to significantly increase the number of Indians migrating to Taiwan.

India has previously signed similar pacts with countries such as France, the UK, and Germany, and plans are underway for a similar agreement with Italy.

This pact aims to promote the mobility of students, professionals, skilled workers, researchers, and academics, while also leveraging India's demographic dividend, according to a WION news report.

As discussions continue regarding the signing of the pact, Taiwan is planning to strengthen its diplomatic presence in India.

The Taipei Economic and Cultural Center (TECC) will be inaugurated in Mumbai during the fourth quarter of this year, serving as a hub for enhancing exchanges and collaboration between the two countries.

The TECC will provide visa services, document authentication, and emergency assistance, catering to businesspeople, tourists, and Taiwanese nationals across multiple Indian states, particularly in the western region, reports WION News.

Taiwan's investment and business presence in India have been steadily increasing.

Notably, about 60 per cent of Taiwanese companies that have invested in India and established factories in the country have chosen locations in southern India.

The economic collaboration between India and Taiwan has flourished in various sectors, including trade, investment, and industry.

Bilateral trade has experienced substantial growth, rising from $1.19 billion in 2001 to nearly $7.7 billion in 2021.

Currently, 106 Taiwanese companies are operating in India, with investments totaling $1.5 billion across sectors such as information technology, medical devices, and automobile components.

This development is taking place amidst the strained relations between India and China, which have been affected by Beijing's aggressive actions in Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh.

The Galwan incident in 2020, where Indian soldiers lost their lives due to Chinese forces' aggression, has greatly impacted the ties between the two countries.

The tensions have further escalated as China continues to assert territorial claims over the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh.

The pact is likely to irk China as it claims sovereignty over Taiwan.