Anand Sharma to raise US outsourcing ban, visa fee issue
September 18th, 2010 - 7:55 pm ICT by IANS
New Delhi, Sep 18 (IANS) Commerce Minister Anand Sharma will raise the outsourcing ban and visa fee hike issues at his meetings with US officials and lawmakers during his visit to Chicago and Washington Sep 20-23.
During the visit, Sharma is scheduled to meet US Trade Representative Ron Kirk and interact with a host of top business heads in America.
Sharma’s visit will prepare the ground for US President Barack Obama’s visit to India in November.
The increase in visa fee is estimated to put an additional burden of $250 million annually on Indian IT firms. The US government has increased visa fee by $2,000 for certain H-1B visas and $2,250 for L-1A and L-1B visas.
In yet another protectionist approach, the US state of Ohio recently banned offshore outsourcing by government departments.
The Indian commerce minister has termed the US move “regressive” that would prove counterproductive and might affect the recovery of the global economy.
According to an official statement, Sharma will visit Chicago Sep 20. At the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, the minister is scheduled to deliver a keynote address on “Seizing the US-India Trade Opportunities”. He will also attend a luncheon session with select chief executives.
On his way back, via Ottawa in Canada, Sharma is scheduled to speak at the Canada-India Centre of Excellence in Science, Technology, Trade and Policy at the Carleton University Sep 25.
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- US move to curb outsourcing regressive, says India - Sep 11, 2010
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- India to raise visa fee hike, outsourcing issues with US (Lead) - Sep 10, 2010
- US Senate rejects bill to curb outsourcing - Sep 29, 2010
- Outsourcing, retail didn't figure in delegation level talks - Nov 09, 2010
- US decision to curb outsourcing of IT projects regressive: Anand Sharma - Sep 11, 2010
- Anand Sharma to attend 'Indo-US Trade Policy Forum' in Washington - Sep 17, 2010
- Indian IT firms look to Europe to diversify business - Sep 15, 2010
- US curbs disturbing, but have no immediate impact: Nasscom - Sep 15, 2010
- India, US will try to solve visa issue bilaterally:Khullar - Aug 26, 2010
- India, US look for the next big thing for Obama visit - Sep 19, 2010
- Germany to support India's stand against US protectionism - Oct 02, 2010
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