UAE-India FTA Year 2: Keralite Professionals See Faster Visa Processing, More Sectors Open

["The UAE-India Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement has entered its second year with tangible benefits for Keralite workers. Work permit processing for IT professionals and healthcare workers has dropped from 45 days to under 27 days on average.","New sectors opened for Indian professionals include fintech, AI\/ML roles, green energy engineering, and tourism management \u2014 all areas where Keralites have strong representation, says NORKA-ROOTS CEO.","The UAE Ministry of Human Resources has also extended the golden visa to cover senior Malayalam-speaking chefs, cultural performers and Kathakali artists, a first in the history of the visa programme.","NORKA estimates over 2.3 lakh Keralites are employed in UAE under FTA-related roles, with monthly remittances from UAE to Kerala crossing \u20b92,800 crore, up 18% year-on-year."]