The former SoftBank executive tells Firstpost that rising anti-immigrant sentiment will make it harder for Indians to enter the US, while urging India to strengthen its education and research ecosystem to attract global talent.
The American dream remains alive for Indians, but pursuing it will become harder amid rising anti-immigrant sentiment in the United States, says former SoftBank executive Alok Sama.
In an interview with Firstpost, Sama said the backlash against immigrants was spreading across the US, the UK and Europe. While arguing that the H-1B visa system needed reform, he cautioned against targeting Indians purely on the basis of their ethnicity.
“I think it’s absolutely alive, but it will be a lot tougher,” Sama said of the American dream for Indians.
Sama, whose two children were born and live in New York City, said the issue was close to his heart. He has also written about American exceptionalism, arguing that immigration has played a central role in shaping the country.
He said the immigration debate had become increasingly politicised across Western countries, making it harder for Indians to enter the US. However, he maintained that there should be no room for discrimination based on ethnicity and expressed faith in the American system.
India needs to invest in education
On whether India could benefit from a reverse brain drain as immigration becomes more challenging in the West, Sama said there was no immediate solution. He argued that India needed stronger universities and research institutions to attract global talent and build a technology ecosystem comparable to Silicon Valley.
More from Business“Until you’ve created that kind of infrastructure, replicating Silicon Valley is impossible,” he said, pointing to Stanford University’s role in the development of the technology hub.
Sama also highlighted China’s investment in research and its growing output of PhDs, particularly in artificial intelligence. He argued that sustained investment in educational infrastructure was essential for technological progress.
‘There’s no shortage of Indian entrepreneurs’
Drawing on his experience at SoftBank, where he worked with and backed Indian entrepreneurs, Sama said India had considerable entrepreneurial talent. He also acknowledged government efforts to encourage entrepreneurship.
However, he argued that building a globally competitive innovation ecosystem required more than supporting startups. India must strengthen its educational institutions and research capabilities to create opportunities for skilled professionals and entrepreneurs.
“There’s no short-term fix. I think it starts with educational infrastructure, and I just haven’t seen enough initiative around that,” he said.
For India, attracting professionals returning from abroad will depend on its ability to build institutions that support advanced research, innovation and long-term career opportunities.
