The United States has said outsourcing to India was 'unavoidable' as the latter had earned its place as the world's knowledge capital in the business process outsourcing sector and that it was actively considering increasing the H1B visas for Indian workers.
"Several appeals were made by the US citizens to put a stop to outsourcing to India but were outright rejected as the US felt that outsourcing to India, the knowledge capital of the world in BPO sector, was unavoidable," an Assocham statement said in New Delhi, quoting US Deputy Chief of Mission Robert O Blake.
Speaking at an interactive session organised by the industry body, he said the US was now thinking about increasing the number of H1B visas to Indian professionals.
"This decision is based on the fact that the US recognises India's contribution in the fields like accounts, software, engineering and law," he said.
Inviting closer cooperation between the small- and medium- sized companies of the US and India, he said, "Such technological advancements will be of great use to Indian small scale sector."
He said the fact that the US was sending several senators to India next week proves that the country was serious in boosting economic cooperation with India.
"This will give India an opportunity to showcase itself to an important legislative arm of the US government," he said.
India's imports from the US stood at $5 billion in 2003, while the exports to the US were valued at over $13 billion, it added.
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