US has heard India in great detail on H-1B visa issue: Nirmala Sitharaman

In an exclusive chat with ET Now, Nirmala Sitharaman, Commerce Minister speaks about the H-1B visa issue at the UN.

ET Now: I would like to ask you that yesterday you had a very important meeting, you were always in the forefront with the H-1B visa issue. Can we see some development there which would allay fears of IT firms?
Nirmala Sitharaman: We have actually discussed in detail as to what the uncertainties are all about and that business always flourishes an environment of certainty and transparency. So, even this visa related issue is an issue on which we would want to have an air of certainty and also transparency. So with that in mind, I have spoken to the bipartisan congress man who had come yesterday. That was well taken. They have also expressed the details about which they are engaging with the US administration. Of course, yet many of our counterparts are yet to be in position. Once they take their office, we shall start engaging with them.

ET Now: Can we expect them to take into account the issues that have been brought in by IT firms especially since you had also brought in Nasscom to give you information about how exactly it would impact them, so can you expect them to take in these considerations that you might have put on?
Nirmala Sitharaman: They have heard us in great detail and they have also very clearly said that they are waiting for the administration to fully settle down and I hope as important congress man they will play their role.

ET Now: MIP on aluminium advance stocks, in fact you met the Minister of Power Piyush Goyal yesterday so can we see any movement in that, we know mines ministry has been pushing it for a while.
Nirmala Sitharaman: I thought you started off with UN.