MUMBAI: Griffith, who is currently visiting India to attend a four-day IT industry conference that started here Tuesday, said Indian IT companies can make Britain a gateway to the emerging markets in Europe. "The British government is making it easier for Indian businesses to operate in Britain with quicker visa procedures and multiple-entry visas that are valid for long periods of ten years," the minister told the conference. The minister said many Indian companies such as Hexaware Technologies, Himachal Futuristic Communications and SSI have tied up with technology firms in Britain to tap outsourcing opportunities in third countries. Referring to reports that some U.S. states were mulling to ban off-shoring government contracts to India, Griffith said: "How can you be sure that the work you are putting in now with U.S. partners won't be undone by local politicians". According to reports, the state of Missouri, Maryland, Wisconsin and Connecticut in U.S. are contemplating legislation that will prohibit outsourcing of federal business process outsourcing works to countries like India. The reported move comes close on the heels of introduction of a bill in New Jersey Senate that seeks to block outsourcing of back office works to other countries, including India. Griffith said that the business environment in U.S. is becoming increasingly risky for Indian companies. Indian software exports posted a growth of 28 percent in the April-December period of the current fiscal year on increased outsourcing by overseas clients. The software and services exports generated revenues of 340 billion in the nine-month period ended December 31, 2002, up from 266 billion logged in the year-ago period, according to the National Association of Software and Service Companies.
Source: IANS