Ohio outsourcing ban an-ill advised decision: Sharma

Asserting the decision of the Ohio Governor to ban outsourcing ofgovernment information teachnology (IT) projects was ill-advised,Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma called for Americancorporate leaders and institutions to sensitise Congress and otherdecision-makers in this regard.

"We hope there is no other statewhich would follow the ill-advised and less informed path chosen by theOhio state government," Sharma told a group of Indian journalists herein response to a question.

"Airtel, an Indian company, hasplaced orders worth $3.5 billion with IBM. Isn't that outsourcing?Where would those jobs be created? Where would those jobs be supported?The largest orders for Boeing aircraft have been placed by India. Howmany jobs would have been sustained and how many jobs would becreated?" he asked.

"This is, I feel, what the opinion makers inthis country, including the chambers of commerce and industry and thethink-tanks, should go and tell those who have been sceptical, thosewho have less information about it," he said.

"I feel sad aboutthose who have commented partially and are not even aware of it. Thisis an ongoing thing - we are engaged at various levels. Nothing remainsfrozen. There is always a forward movement and hopefully this will berespectfully acknowledged, because issues have arisen," he said.

"Weunderstand what the US economy has been through and that's why ourprime minister himself, at the last two G-20 Summits, has spoken abouta well-coordinated response by the governments and cautioned againstprotectionism in any manner or in any form," Sharma said.

"Ifeel it is also expected of the US business leadership andinstitutions, which have a role to play in the formulation of publicopinion, to sensitise the Congress so that an objective and balancedview emerges," the minister said.