External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Tuesday, 30 June declared that India regards human resource mobility as a core pillar of international cooperation, emphasising that New Delhi's partnerships in this domain rest on mutual benefit, shared responsibility, and long-term sustainability. He was speaking at the inaugural session of the Human Resource Mobility Forum in New Delhi.

India's Mobility Vision

Jaishankar framed mobility as far more than the physical movement of workers across borders. 'Human resource mobility represents far more than the movement of people from one place to another. It is about connecting aspirations with opportunities. It is about linking talent with demand,' he said, adding that the ultimate goal is both economic growth and social wellbeing.

He stressed that India's approach is not confined to facilitating overseas employment. 'We view mobility as a very important pillar of international cooperation. When managed effectively, such partnerships create value for the source countries, for the destination countries, for employers, for workers, for communities,' Jaishankar noted.

28 Migration and Mobility Agreements

India has, to date, signed 28 Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreements (MMPAs) or their equivalents with 26 countries, with several more currently under negotiation. Jaishankar underscored the need for nations to collectively combat illegal migration, exploitative practices, fraudulent intermediaries, and human trafficking — challenges that, he argued, erode the credibility of legal mobility ecosystems and place vulnerable individuals at risk.

eMigrate Platform and Digital Governance

A centrepiece of Jaishankar's address was India's digital infrastructure for migration governance. He highlighted the eMigrate V.2 platform, launched two years ago, which has since issued more than 50 lakh (five million) emigration clearances. 'This digital ecosystem has become a global example of leveraging technology to protect migrant workers while facilitating mobility,' he said.

He also cited the Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF), the MADAD portal, and responsive consular services as instruments that ensure timely assistance to Indian nationals overseas, describing the welfare and protection of Indians abroad as the fundamental guiding principle of India's migration governance.

Future of Global Labour Markets

Jaishankar acknowledged that advances in artificial intelligence and automation are set to transform labour markets across geographies and sectors. He pointed to the green economy as a source of new skill demands, while noting that healthcare and caregiving services will grow in importance as populations age globally.

He called the Human Resource Mobility Forum an essential platform for policymakers, industry leaders, employers, and practitioners to exchange ideas and explore new approaches, arguing that the opportunities and challenges of mobility transcend national boundaries and cannot be addressed by any single country or government department in isolation. The forum is expected to generate insights that strengthen partnerships and shape the future of global talent mobility.