The Hindu Business Line : Restriction on outsourcing a retrograde step: Sinha

THE Minister for External Affairs, Mr Yashwant Sinha, has said that the restriction on outsourcing is a retrograde step and not in the best interests either of bilateral economies or global economy.

Addressing a press conference here on Wednesday, Mr Sinha said the restriction was against the rule-based trade regime.

Referring to the recent visits of some high-level delegations from the European countries, he said the European Commission had come out clearly in favour of outsourcing. They felt that "nothing should be done to restrict business process outsourcing."

Mr Sinha was here to address a seminar on `India's relationship with West Asian and neighbouring countries'.

"It (restriction on outsourcing) affects India more than any other developing country. There are concerns in some countries in the European Union and the US about loss of jobs," he said.

On the issue of nuclear black market, he categorically emphasised that the issue was not a bilateral issue. "Nuclear proliferation is not a bilateral issue. It is a matter of international concern," he observed.

"It's everyone's concern, including India, that the technology should not fall in the hands of terrorists," the Minister said.

With regard to the ongoing talks with Pakistan, he said the preliminary round of talks, which were under way, aimed at creating a common understanding on composite dialogue, preparing a list of issues to be discussed and timing and settling on level of talks.

On the proposed cricket tour, which threatened to put a spoke in the talks' process, Mr Sinha said the game should be played in the right spirit.

"There's no confusion in Government's mind in this regard," he said.

Commenting on the looming French law that would ban religious symbols in Government schools in France, he said the law was not against Sikhs alone. "We have represented our case," he said.