India's software and services exports totaled $17.2 billion in the fiscal year to March 31 this year, up by 34.5% from the previous year, according to India's National Association of Software and Service Companies (Nasscom) in Delhi.

From the start of this year to March 31, exports of IT software and services grew by 30.5% to $12 billion, while exports of business process outsourcing (BPO), call center and related services grew by 44.5% to $5.2 billion. The growth in exports came despite fierce opposition last year to offshore outsourcing from politicians and workers unions in the U.S., Nasscom President Kiran Karnik said.

For the long term, however, India's outsourcing industry will have to forge ties with educational institutions to ensure a larger supply of quality staffing for the industry, said Subramanian Ramadorai, chairman of Nasscom and chief executive officer of Mumbai-based Tata Consultancy Services Ltd., India's largest outsourcer. The industry will also have to innovate its services and processes to add greater value to the customer and improve productivity, he added.

Source: Computer WorldPrashanth RaiTags: Outsource, India