India and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) on Friday, 16 October held a series of high-level discussions in New Delhi aimed at deepening bilateral cooperation on migration and mobility. Minister of State (MoS) for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh met IOM Director General Amy Pope, who is currently on an official visit to India, to advance the India–IOM partnership.

Key Meetings and What Was Discussed

In his meeting with Amy Pope, MoS Singh said the talks covered 'ongoing initiatives to further strengthen India–IOM cooperation in the areas of migration and mobility,' according to his post on X. Earlier the same day, Secretary (CPV and OIA) Sripriya Ranganathan of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) also held separate discussions with Pope, focusing on global migration and mobility trends and identifying ways to expand India's opportunities in the evolving international migration landscape.

Labour Ministry Engagement on Ethical Recruitment

The engagement with Indian authorities began a day earlier, on Thursday, 15 October, when Amy Pope met Minister of State for Labour and Employment Shobha Karandlaje in New Delhi. Their talks centred on skills recognition, ethical recruitment, and the establishment of regular labour pathways that protect migrant workers while expanding economic opportunity. Pope noted after the meeting that 'skills can open doors, but mobility must be safe and work for people,' adding that the discussions focused on 'practical cooperation on skills recognition, ethical recruitment and regular labour pathways that protect workers and expand opportunity.'

On the Ground: IOM's Work With Migrant Workers in Chennai

As part of her India visit, Amy Pope also travelled to Chennai, where she met workers assisted by the IOM through its Mobile Worker Resource Centres — outreach hubs that provide information and support directly within communities where migrant workers live and work. Pope said the initiative, run in partnership with private sector players, is helping more workers access timely, life-changing support. 'Good information, at the right time, can change a life,' she noted.

Background: India–IOM Cooperation and the GCM

This visit builds on a growing engagement between India and the IOM. As recently as May 2026, MoS Singh and Pope met on the sidelines of the International Migration Review Forum 2026 in New York, where they discussed expanding and diversifying regular migration pathways. Those talks also covered India's proactive approach to implementing the Global Compact for Migration (GCM) and IOM's operational activities within India. The current New Delhi visit signals a continuation and deepening of that momentum, reflecting India's growing strategic interest in shaping international migration governance.

Further outcomes from the discussions, including any formal agreements or joint action plans, are expected to be announced in the coming weeks as both sides consolidate their engagement.