India is preparing to play a larger role in the global workforce as demand for skilled professionals continues to surge all over the world. The launch of the Global Access to Talent from India (GATI) Foundation in New Delhi is expected to make India a key supplier of talent across international markets.
The GATI initiative aims to create structured migration pathways for Indian professionals. The target is to enable the outbound movement of 2 to 2.5 million workers annually. The initiative also hopes to boost inward remittances from the current 2.5 per cent of GDP to 4–5 per cent, potentially generating up to $170 billion.
Currently, an estimated 34 million Indians and Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) live and work abroad. A third of them are based in the Gulf region, while the rest are spread across developed countries. Indian professionals are already contributing significantly to sectors such as aviation, hospitality, and shipping in countries such as Australia and Germany.
The growing global demand for talent is being driven by demographic shifts, post-pandemic labour shortages, and the rapid evolution of technology. In response, India is forging bilateral partnerships to facilitate talent mobility. Agreements with countries such as Japan, Mauritius, and Israel are already yielding results. As of March 2025, nearly 6,600 Indian workers have been hired by 195 Israeli companies under a recent migration agreement.
European nations such as Italy, Spain, Austria and Greece, along with Southeast Asian economies such as Malaysia and Singapore, have also shown increased interest in Indian professionals. Germany has even proposed a fourfold increase in Indian employment visas.
The GATI Foundation is now collaborating with both Central and state governments, aiming to integrate itself into India’s broader strategy to become a global talent hub.
