U.S., India relations discussed

By Michael Watanabe
Daily Forty-Niner

Information technology and education will continue to be major factors in the relationship between the United States and India, Indian Minister of Economics Sudhakar Rao said Monday.

"After the '50s and '60s, the government actually promoted higher education, and within that higher education, education in technology," Rao said to an audience of about 50 Cal State Long Beach students.

Though many had called these elitist practices, India now "has the second largest stock of trained scientists Ö and this has become our greatest start of good will among nations," he said.

During 1993 and 1994, exports in Indian computer software were $100 million. Last year, information technology exports totaled $60 million, most of which came to the United States.

Most Fortune 500 companies have their information technology-related work done in India. Many of these companies also have their back-office operations in India, such as General Electric and British Airways.

"The telephone call that you made to British Airways is actually picked up by somebody in India," Rao said.

A high-tech education has also helped develop the information technology field in both the United States and India.

"These people are not just professionals; they are not just working for a company," Rao said. "Many of them are branching out and starting their own companies.

"One-third of all (technology company) starters in Silicon Valley are Indian starters," Rao said. "For the first time, they are becoming entrepreneurs."

In the future, Rao believes the relationship between the United States and India will continue to strengthen. As the United States grows, and communication improves, it will look toward India in the future, he added.

Paul Lewis, director of the Center for International Education chose a speaker from India because he had wanted to provide diversity in the type of speakers the center brings to campus.

Past speakers have been diplomats from Turkey and Europe. The program has been running for 15 years.