Indian campaign to counter allegations on outsourcing

Friday, 14 November 2003, 20:30 IST
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WASHINGTON: A coalition of Indian government officials, business groups and influential Indian Americans has quietly launched an extensive lobbying campaign in Washington to counter allegations that the country was taking an unfair number of high-end US jobs, a media report said on Thursday. India is paying several high-priced Washington lobbying and law firms to craft a campaign extolling the benefits to the US of closer economic ties with India, the Wall Street Journal reported. Washington-based law firm Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld will collect USD 600,000 annually "to advise India and work the halls of the Congress", according to Justice Department records. Former House Speaker Tom Foley, former diplomats and lawmakers at the firm will run the campaign. The Indian Embassy also has an annual USD 240,000 tie-up with well-known international advisor Edwardvon Kloberg, who represents several Eastern European companies, the report said. India's National Association of Software and Service Companies (Nasscom), representing 850 international companies, has hired Hill & Knowlton, an influential public relations and lobbying firm. Nasscom paid the company USD 100,000 for the first six months of this year.
Source: IANS
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