World needs workforce, will form new ties: EAM

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has expressed confidence that global commerce will adapt to geopolitical turbulence, saying that India is already expanding its partnerships with new regions like Latin America and the Caribbean to diversify its economy.

Speaking at a panel discussion on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, Jaishankar said while uncertainty was reshaping international relations, trade and workforce mobility would continue to push through barriers. “The world will increasingly require a global workforce. Trade has always found ways to adjust and even in uncertain times, new arrangements in technology, connectivity and workplace models will emerge. The global landscape could look very different within a short span,” he remarked.

He stressed that in a volatile climate, large economies like India must invest in domestic capabilities. “Technology, self-reliance, multi-polarity and South-South cooperation are not separate strands, but part of one basket of priorities we are pursuing,” he said.

His comments come amid renewed strain in the India-US trade ties. Washington has raised tariffs on Indian goods to 50 per cent, citing New Delhi’s continued energy purchases from Moscow, and sharply increased H-1B visa fees to $1,00,000 -- moves that have rattled Indian IT companies whose professionals account for more than 70 per cent of such permits.

Despite these frictions, Jaishankar positioned India as a resilient economy and a reliable partner in shaping global growth. His message was that while policies and politics might shift, the underlying momentum of trade and human talent would continue to carve new pathways across the world.