Don’t write off outsourcing industry yet

The epitaph of the Indian outsourcing industry has been written many times over the last two decades. An op-ed on the pages of Mint Views, dated 22 July and titled ‘A captive customer interface beats outsourcing the job’, provided the latest diagnosis of its imminent decline. It should be noted that the outsourcing industry provides direct employment to nearly 3 million people, generates $200 billion of revenues annually and has created wealth touching $400 billion. This strategically critical industry is in rude health and a torchbearer for Indian capabilities all around the world.