However, Indian software companies have been battling a backlash from the United States and some other countries which fear India is stealing jobs.

India is the leader among several countries which develop software and handle back office work for foreign companies and government agencies at a fraction of the cost in developed countries.

The trend, called offshore outsourcing, has resulted in thousands of skilled jobs moving out of developed countries, including the United States and Britain, to India, the Philippines and other Asian nations.

The U.S. Senate on Jan. 22 passed a bill that would prohibit government contractors from shifting work overseas. Experts say the bill, which awaits presidential approval, would have little impact because less than 2 percent of India's US$10 billion annual software export revenue comes from government-related projects.

The conference in Bombay is organized by the National Association of Software and Service Companies, the Indian software and services export industry.

-----

On the Net:

National Association of Software and Service Companies: http://www.nasscom.org