Kerry says his views on outsourcing misinterpreted

Visiting US senator and Democratic candidate for the 2005 American Presidential elections, John Kerry, today said that his views on outsourcing were misinterpreted.

Stating that every company has a right to chose its own course, the senator, however, faulted those American companies that made decisions in favour of business process outsourcing purely on non-economic considerations.

“We had problem with some people who made their choices purely for the purpose of taking advantage of tax benefits,” Kerry told mediapersons here after his meeting with chief minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy. He said that he had no problem with outsourcing based on economic considerations.

Referring to his campaign on the issue of outsourcing during the presidential elections, he said that it was an issue of loss of jobs, loss of healthcare, loss of pension benefits and about not providing alternatives to those who lost their jobs. Kerry said that he only wanted the companies to be better corporate citizens of his country.

Replying to a question on the significance of his visit to Hyderabad, he said the city was going through an economic transformation in terms of business, and outsourcing among other things.

“I thought it important to visit the place to know firsthand and understand what is happening and what the challenges are,” he said. He also said that both US and India came together to work for the mutual advantage and to the comfort of all of our workers.

The issues relating to transport, infrastructure, AIDS awareness, environment, and the outside challenges from China among others came up for discussion during his meeting with the chief minister, he said.

He complimented India for its contribution to globalisation on several fronts. Later, he also met the leader of the opposition and former chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu.