IOM Director General Brunson McKinley and India's Minister of
Overseas Indian Affairs (MOIA) Vayalar Ravi, are today signing a
Memorandum of Understanding which will serve as a platform for the
joint implementation of programmes and activities enhancing the
management and facilitation of overseas employment of Indian
workers worldwide.

Following the signing in New Delhi, a Project Implementation
Unit will be established within the Ministry to initiate activities
facilitating managed labour mobility from India.

This includes the joint and immediate implementation in India of
a European Commission funded IOM programme promoting both regional
dialogue and programmes aimed at enhancing managed labour mobility
between Asia and the European Union.

Under this programme, IOM and MOIA will jointly create
innovative labour mobility management programmes such as the
establishment of an Overseas Workers Resource Centre to disseminate
information on legal opportunities for potential overseas workers
and the implementation of mass information campaigns.

In order to boost skill levels and tap into new labour demands,
a market research unit will also be established in MOIA to forecast
future needs. Findings generated by the unit will be used for skill
development planning.

"This agreement is a landmark in IOM's relationship with India.
Indian overseas workers already contribute an enormous amount to
the global economy. Our work together on this programme will ensure
not only that this continues to the benefit of all, but in a way
that promotes the safety and dignity of Indian workers overseas,"
says Director General McKinley.

The EC/IOM project is currently being implemented in 10 Asian
source countries, all of which are members of the Colombo Process
or the Regional Consultative Process on the Management of Overseas
Employment and Contractual Labour for Countries of Origin in
Asia.

According to MOIA, an estimated 25 million people of Indian
origin live abroad, remitting more than USD 24 billion dollars to
India every year. About 24 per cent of this originates from the
Gulf region.

For further information, please contact:

Aiko Kikkawa

IOM Regional Office for Southern Asia, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Tel: +880 2 881 4604

E-mail: "mailto:akikkawa@iom.int">akikkawa@iom.int