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**Headline: Jaishankar Calls for Global Workforce Model Amid Trade Turmoil, Rising Protectionism**

**New York, September 26, 2025** – External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar addressed the Observer Research Foundation panel in New York on Wednesday, urging the international community to confront the need for a “contemporary, efficient model of a global workforce” amidst rising trade tensions and protectionist policies.

Speaking at the event, titled ‘At The Heart of Development: Aid, Trade & Technology’, Jaishankar highlighted the demographic realities in many nations, arguing that domestic populations alone cannot meet workforce demands. He suggested a distributed, global workplace as a potential solution.

Jaishankar’s remarks come as trade and tariff challenges intensify, exacerbated by restrictive immigration policies. He pointed specifically to a new $100,000 fee on H-1B visas, which disproportionately impacts Indian professionals.

The Minister predicted significant shifts in trade arrangements, as countries seek new partnerships and regions to mitigate risks. Despite current obstacles, he expressed optimism that trade would ultimately find a way, supported by advancements in physical and digital infrastructure.

Jaishankar emphasized the importance of self-reliance for large countries in today’s turbulent environment, citing India’s focus on building national capacities, specifically its Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) which he noted is more easily adaptable for many societies than European or American models. He noted the rising unpredictability in the global arena.

He further cautioned against over-dependence on specific markets and supply chains, urging nations to prioritize de-risking, hedging, and building resilience against unforeseen contingencies across the entire economic chain. “The central proposition in diplomacy is probably how ‘do you de-risk, how do you hedge, how do you become more resilient, how do you safeguard yourself against unforeseen contingencies,” he concluded.

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