The movement of skilled professionals is an important part of India-U.S. ties and benefits both countries, New Delhi said on Friday amid a debate over H-1B visas on which President-elect Donald Trump and his backer Elon Musk commented recently.

Spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, Randhir Jaiswal said on Friday that India and the US ties benefit from technical expertise provided by skilled professionals. Jaiswal also said that growing economic and technological partnership is an important ambit of US-India component.

India emphasized the importance of skilled professionals in strengthening India-U.S. ties, highlighting mutual benefits from H-1B visas, which India predominantly receives (78% in 2023). Amid debates over the program,

The ongoing debate over the H1B visa escalated last month after two of US President-elect Donald Trump’s close confidants, Tesla owner Elon Musk and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy

The external affairs ministry says skilled professionals are crucial to India-US ties amid the ongoing H-1B visa controversy in the United States. The foreign ministry's spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal,