Date: Wed, 14 Jan 2004 12:16:07 -0800 From: Norm Matloff To: Norm Matloff Subject: so much for "moving up the food chain" To: H-1B/L-1/offshoring e-newsletter Apologists for allowing the software development industry to move offshore insist that it is no problem, as American techies can simply "move up the food chain" (their phrasing) to newer technologies. One of those technologies which is frequently cited is nanotechnology. This has been cited, for example, by Commerce Department Undersecretary Phillip Bond (International Herald Tribune, Jan. 2, 2004) and former Secretary of Labor Robert Reich (Washington Post op ed, Nov. 1, 2003). Each time I've seen statements like these, I ask, why can't India do those things too? Well, sure enough, the article below assures us that India will be the world leader in nanotechnology. (Added note: According to Prof. Ron Hira, China is also devoting major research efforts to nanotechnology.) Once again, the Indian press is much more informative than the American one, which has been telling us that nanotechnology is an area that will bring the U.S. tech sector back to life in a few years (e.g. San Jose Mercury News, Nov. 10, 2003). Note that Pressler, a former U.S. Senator, sits on the board of the giant Indian software firm Infosys. He was a major supporter of H-1B while he was senator. Norm http://www.manoramaonline.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=manorama/MmArticle/CommonFullStory&cid=1073976205622&c=MmArticle&p=1002194839100&count=10&colid=102279818293&channel=News 14th JAN 09:44 hrs IST India can be world leader in nano-tech: Larry Pressler - - Kolkata: Noted business consultant and former US Senator Larry Pressler has predicted that India would be the world leader in nano-technology in the next 10 years. ''India can lead the world in nano-technology in the next 10 years. India has got the brain power for this, what with its large pool of alumni from the IITs and IIMs,'' Pressler said at a news conference here. Referring to the recent controversy in the US over Business Process Outsourcing from India, Pressler, who is in the Infosys board of directors, said that BPO was part of free trade and should be supported. ''The presence of Japanese cars in the US is because of outsourcing. US-made tractors in India or any part of Asia means jobs are created somewhere in Asia. We need universal access to medical technology and business technology. That is why outsourcing is so important,'' Pressler, who had authored many legislations relating to trade and commerce during his four years in the US House, admitted that the recent US restrictions in granting visas was a sensitive issue, but defended the move saying that it had to be done, despite pressures by some leftist unions, owing to security considerations following the September 11 attack on the World Trade Centre.