Indian IT industry congratulates Donald Trump, fear backlash

Moneycontrol Bureau

India's IT and outsourcing companies congratulated Donald Trump his winning the US Presidential Elections, in a move to build bridges with the Republican Party nominee.

India’s apex association for IT companies Nasscom which has members such as Infosys, HCL Tech, TCS, Microsoft, Wipro and others, tried to allay fears of tech outsourcing firms which were concerned on capping on work visas if Trump came to power. All Indian IT companies rely heavily on US H1B and L1 visas to send workers for onshore work.

"We congratulate President-elect Trump. Many of his observations during the campaign concerning high-skilled immigration and outsourcing were based on fabrications put out by critics of the sector,” said a statement from lobby firm Nasscom.

“We are optimistic that President-elect Trump’s administration will focus on making the strategic relationship with India a high priority including providing a boost to US India bilateral trade and investment,” the association said.

Trump recently said that, if he is elected, the US and India would be “best friends.”

Last month, he also vowed to protect jobs for Americans.

"Many mothers across this country are worried their kids won't find jobs, and they are right to be worried. One of the biggest threats is outsourcing jobs for college-educated kids are being sent to other countries," Trump said, last month.

"At the same time, companies are importing low-wage workers on H-1B visas to take jobs from young college-trained Americans," he had alleged.