Italy may open Visa Office In Chandigarh

CHANDIGARH: Italy may shortly open its visa office in Chandigarh to cater to the growing demand of Punjabis migrating to that country for employment.



An indication to this effect was given by Antonio Armellini, Ambassador of Italy during his hour-long meeting with the Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal here today. Antonio was responding to a request in this regard from Badal.



The office may initially have the level of an Honorary Consulate and may be opened as soon as the Government of India gives its clearance. Mr. Antonio was accompanied by Italian Consulate in New Delhi Gabriele Annis.



Talking to the Chief Minister Antonio also said that the doors of his country for skilled Punjabi manpower were open especially in the field of Agriculture, Agro-Processing, Machine tools and Horticulture.Badal also sought Italian cooperation from Antonio in the field of education, spatially at the school level. Antonio said that many Italian Universities and Institutions had Indian affiliates but unfortunately there were non so far from Punjab . He said that his Country was willing to cooperate with the Government of India and the state government to facilitate tie-ups between Educational Institutions in Punjab and Italy. He said that this would also open up avenues for Punjabi students in other parts of the Europe .



Both Badal and Antonio agreed on the need for putting in place legal procedure to ensure that the Punjabi youth were not exploited by unscrupulous agents at home and greedy employers abroad. Badal informed that state government was in the process of bringing a about Legislation to regulate the functioning of Travel Agents in Punjab .



The visiting Ambassador said that his country had a special stake in Punjab as more than 80% of the Indians migrating to Italy came from this state. He said that most of them were prospering and were well integrated in to the host society. Some of them were willing to contribute pro-actively to promote economic, cultural and social inter relations between Government of Italy and the Government & people of Punjab . He however pointed out that many of those who had illegally migrated to Italy were facing hardships and were subject to exploitation and blackmail in exchange for shelter and meagerly employment. He said that this was entirely avoidable as his country really welcomes the enterprising Punjabi migrants who came there after following proper procedure.



Antonio also extended an invitation to Badal to visit Italy which the Chief Minister gratefully accepted. Mr. Badal presented a spatial memento to Antonio as a token of love from the people of Punjab .



The meeting was attended a part from Badal by Media Advisor to Chief Minister Harcharan Bains, Chief Secretary, Punjab R.I. Singh and Principal Secretary to Chief Minister D.S. Guru.




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