The Convergence Foundation | Catalysing Pivotal Outcomes

Featured Announcements Videos Reports Newsletters Events Blogs Op-Eds In the Media

Making India the Global Talent Hub: Global Access to Talent from India (GATI) Foundation Launched

06 May 2025

On May 6, Global Access to Talent from India (GATI) Foundation was officially launched at an event graced by Shri. Dr. S. Jaishankar, Hon’ble External Affairs Minister of India, as the Chief Guest. Shri. Jayant Chaudhary, Hon’ble Minister of State (Independent Charge) Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Minister of State for Education, attended as the Guest of Honour. Incubated by The Convergence Foundation, Manish Sabharwal, and Godrej Foundation, GATI is a non-profit Foundation dedicated to building structured, ethical, and circular pathways for global talent mobility.

This mission gains urgency amid projections that high-income economies will face a labour shortage of 45–50 million skilled and semi-skilled workers by 2030. With a vision to position India as a global hub for skilled talent, GATI Foundation aims to foster collaboration between governments, businesses, and nonprofits to unlock opportunities for Indian workers in international labour markets.

The launch event brought together foreign ambassadors, senior government officials, leading industry representatives, and think tanks to deliberate on key themes such as government-to-government partnerships, ethical recruitment practices, and industry-led solutions for global skills mobility.

Speaking at the launch, Shri Dr. S. Jaishankar emphasised the critical role of skill development and international mobility in strengthening India’s global presence. “It is crucial to nurture, expand, deploy, and upgrade talent. Also to identify the opportunities within and beyond our borders. There is a demand in the world, an availability in India and the basic groundwork done to enable Indian talent to gain global access. Wishing GATI Foundation all the best as it seeks to promote and facilitate this global access to talent from India.”

Shri Jayant Chaudhary added, “In an age of rapid adoption of new disruptive technologies across industries, the skill ecosystem and regulators must be agile, inclusive, and global in their response to the dynamic demands of the job market. With the right partnerships, like the one we have with GATI Foundation, we can align our interventions appropriately to enhance India’s global talent footprint.”

Ashish Dhawan, Founder-CEO of The Convergence Foundation, said, “Today, nearly 700,000 Indians migrate to work overseas each year. However, 60% of this workforce is concentrated in GCC countries. We have a real opportunity to expand our annual migrant flows to 2-2.5 million, by diversifying across geographies and job roles. Doing this can not only create more job opportunities, but also help us increase our remittances to $300 billion. Since remittances flow directly into households—enhancing consumption, education, and health spending—there is also a significant impact on poverty reduction.”

The event also featured two panel discussions. The first panel focused on global talent mobility wherein distinguished ambassadors delved into the emerging demand of workers in their countries. The second panel shifted the lens to the supply side perspectives and dicussed circular mobility for Viksit Bharat 2047.

GATI Foundation’s work is supported by an esteemed group of Industry Champions and Advisory Board members, including Arti Ahuja (Former Secretary, Ministry of Labour & Employment), Nihal Chauhan (CEO, Indo-Pacific Advisory), representatives from Godrej Foundation, and Shriya Sethi (Operating Partner, The Convergence Foundation).

Global Access to Talent from India (GATI Foundation) officially launched by Shri. Dr. S. Jaishankar, Hon’ble External Affairs Minister of India, and Shri. Jayant Chaudhary, Hon’ble Minister of State (Independent Charge) Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Minister of State for Education

Videos

Shri. Dr. S. Jaishankar, Hon’ble External Affairs Minister of India, delivers the Keynote Address

In the Media

India’s remittances could reach over 4% of GDP by 2030: GATI Foundation founders Ashish Dhawan and Manish Sabharwal

India’s remittances, at around $129 billion, were almost double that of the second largest country Mexico at $68 billion in 2024.

India to amend Emigration Act to meet demands of global workplace: S Jaishankar

The Emigration Act was “designed to address demands of a particular geography in a certain era” but “times have changed and our vistas have expanded”, he said.

Need to promote legal mobility, prohibit illegal migration: Jaishankar

He said the challenge of “black economy” should be faced with the viewpoint of flow of talent, societal good and national security.

Key initiative launched to facilitate mobility of Indians abroad

The Global Access to Talent from India (GATI) Foundation has launched to facilitate the mobility of the Indian workforce abroad, addressing a projected global shortage of skilled workers. GATI aims to create ethical pathways for international talent mobility through collaboration between governments, businesses, and nonprofits.

"Need for talent abroad is a situation actually upon us today": EAM Jaishankar highlights the importance of Indian talent abroad

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar highlighted the importance of leveraging human resources and the novel way in which India plays a role in this area during a speech at the Global Access to Talents from India (GATI) event in New Delhi on Tuesday.

Italy, Spain, Austria and Greece have shown interest in recruiting people from India: Jaishankar

He was speaking at the launch of an event — Global Access to Talent from India.

Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain need foreign workers; India is the answer

Dr. Jaishankar said India was preparing to meet the rising international demand for skilled and semi-skilled workers.

'Indians abroad need routinised care', says Jaishankar on govt push

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar outlines India's efforts to support its global workforce, emphasising skill development and institutional mechanisms to assist Indians abroad.

'There Is Demand in World, Availability in India,' Says Jaishankar

It is crucial to nurture, expand, deploy and upgrade talent, and to identify the opportunities within and beyond our borders. There is a demand in the world, an availability in India and the basic groundwork done to enable Indian talent to gain global access.

India launches GATI Foundation to boost global talent mobility and tackle labour shortages: All you need to know

The GATI Foundation aims to create structured, ethical, and circular pathways to meet growing international demand for skilled and semi-skilled Indian workers, particularly in high-income economies projected to face a shortfall of 45–50 million workers by 2030.

'Will institutionalise care for Indians living abroad': Jaishankar reiterates Centre's commitment

EAM S Jaishankar emphasised the need to institutionalise support for Indians abroad, promote legal mobility, and leverage India's human resources for global opportunities, particularly in healthcare and semiconductor industries.