Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk praised the contributions of Indian professionals to the U.S. economy and defended the H-1B visa program during a recent podcast with Nikhil Kamath.
Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk has expressed strong support for the contributions of Indian professionals to the United States economy, emphasizing that America has “benefited immensely” from skilled Indians who have migrated there over the years.
During an appearance on Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath’s popular podcast, “WTF is,” released on Sunday, Musk underscored the crucial role that Indian engineers, scientists, and entrepreneurs have played in shaping the U.S. technology and business landscape.
Kamath initiated the conversation by noting that the U.S. has long attracted top global talent, a phenomenon often referred to in India as “brain drain.” He highlighted the increasing number of Indian-origin CEOs leading some of the world’s largest corporations.
Musk concurred with this observation, stating that Indian professionals have significantly bolstered the American innovation ecosystem. “America has benefitted enormously from talented Indians who came to the U.S.,” he remarked, adding that the tech industry consistently faces challenges in finding enough highly skilled individuals.
In response to concerns that foreign workers are taking jobs away from Americans, Musk dismissed this notion. “From my direct experience, there is always a shortage of truly talented people. More talent only helps solve hard problems,” he asserted.
He further noted that his companies, which include Tesla, SpaceX, X, and xAI, prioritize hiring the most capable professionals from around the globe.
Addressing the H-1B visa program, Musk acknowledged that while he supports it, there have been instances of misuse by certain outsourcing firms. “There has definitely been gaming of the system by certain companies, and that needs to stop,” he stated. However, he firmly opposed the idea of abolishing the program altogether.
“I’m not in favor of ending the H-1B program. That would be extremely harmful for America’s long-term technological growth,” Musk warned. The H-1B visa has long enabled highly skilled professionals, particularly from India and China, to work in specialized sectors in the U.S., with India being the largest beneficiary of this program.
Musk also touched upon immigration enforcement, criticizing what he described as inadequate border controls under the previous administration. He emphasized that effective border checks are vital for national stability.
“Without proper border controls, you don’t really have a country,” he said, adding that flawed incentive structures have encouraged illegal migration.
In summary, Musk’s remarks highlight the importance of skilled immigration to the U.S. economy while also acknowledging the need for reform within the H-1B visa program to prevent misuse.
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