Mr. Ar Rm Arun delivered the Theme address at a seminar on “Indo-US IT Outsourcing business: The Road Ahead” organized by FICCI, TNSC. Mr. Arun is the Vice Chairman of SPEL Semiconductor, he is also the Co-Chairman of FICCI’s Science & Technology Committee, Indo-Taiwan & Indo-Korea Joint Business Councils and is on FICCI’s Joint Task Force for enhancing India-USA relations. He is also the Convener of the IT & Communications Panel of FICCI’s Tamil Nadu State Council.

While addressing the subject, he presented the Global & Indian perspective on outsourcing, before highlighting the changes adapted by the US in the last couple of decades. He pointed out the fact that while IT outsourcing was being targeted, US was always engaged in outsourcing Manufacturing much before than the IT outsourcing began. Manufacturing also outsourced more jobs compared to IT.

The seminar was inaugurated by Ms. Poongothai Aladi Aruna, Minister for Information Technology, Tamilnadu along with Mr. Andrew T. Simkin, U.S. Consul-General in Chennai, Mr. PWC Davidar, IAS IT secretary to Govt. of Tamilnadu, Mr. Rafeeque Ahmed, Chairman, FICCI, TNSC and Mr. P. Murari, Advisor to the President, FICCI, Delhi.

Mr. Arun suggested that India should respond to the recent outsourcing backlash with maturity. He explained that IT industry in India should take on Innovation, focus on new markets & develop the domestic market to continue its growth momentum.

He also cautioned the US to be ready for growth when the recession ends. To ensure this US will need to outsource low-end jobs to other countries while focusing on Innovation and developing local talent to be ready for the growth later.

The Inaugural session was followed by a Panel Discussion. The Panel discussion was moderated by Dr. Sandhya Sekar, CEO, IITM, Research park and the following were the prominent speakers Mr. K. Ananth Krishnan, Vice President, TCS, Mr. Lawranace Lane, Vice Consul, US Consulate, Chennai, Mr. Kris Arvind, Managing Director & Associate Partner, Asia-Pacific, CGN & Associates, Mr. S. Srinivasan, Managing Director, SRA Sytems Limited.