Following criticism, U.S. suspends foreign aid for outsourcing (to Sri Lanka)

[Newsjock]

Source: Computerworld

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has "suspended" a plan to train people in Sri Lanka in outsourcing skills, and says it will review whether this training impacts U.S. jobs, says a lawmaker who opposed the program.

Rep. Tim Bishop (D-NY) said USAID's plan to provide about 3,000 Sri Lankans training in information technology, business process outsourcing and call center support was, in effect, "teaching foreign workers how to better take jobs from American workers."

... Bishop announced the program's suspension in a statement released on Thursday. USAID officials were not immediately available for comment, but Bishop's spokesman released a copy of the decision on the program.

USAID told Bishop that it "has suspended a job skills development project in Sri Lanka while we conduct a review to ensure the project will not take any jobs away from Americans."

Read more: http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9184458/Following_criticism_U.S._suspends_foreign_aid_for_outsourcing

[OhioChick]

1. Now It's Armenia: USAID Funds IT In Eurasia

After pledging millions to bolster outsourcing in South Asia, federal agency extends largesse to a new recipient.


August 5, 2010 03:09 PM

Even as controversy mounts over its funding of IT outsourcers in South Asia, the U.S. Agency for International Development has announced a program under which it will partner with the government of Armenia—a nation anxious to lure computer work from American shores--to promote the development of the country's information technology industry.

Jonathan Hale, USAID deputy assistant administrator for Europe & Eurasia, is on a four-day trip to Armenia to meet with government and private industry leaders in the country. On his agenda is a meeting with Armenian economic minister Nerses Yeritsyan.

"We look forward to partnering with USAID on the IT sector, which has great potential as Armenia has an advantage in this sector," Yeritsyan said in a statement released by USAID. "We want companies to come to Armenia and create their innovative environments," Yeritsyan said.

More: http://www.informationweek.com/news/storage/disaster_recovery/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=226600094

Snip~ "USAID, a taxpayer-funded federal agency, did not disclose how much it's contributing to Armenia's efforts to become a global IT competitor. "

[Vehl]

2. I welcome this decision!

The Srilankan government has been accused by the HRW, Amnesty International, Doctors without Borders and UNICEF for actively engaging in Gross human rights violations and War Crimes.Tens of thousands of civilians have been killed, maimed , tortured and simply "made disappear" by the government...And hundreds of thousands have been made refugees.Furthermore it engages in state sponsored Discrimination...and has done so for the last 60 odd years.

Don't spend a $ on supporting such a regime....a regime which is run by "the family" (the president, defense sec, minister of econ..etc etc are all siblings!).

Every $ spent on Lanka/lankan made goods goes to support such a despicable regime.


Check this site for more info
http://www.boycottsrilanka.com/

[rpannier]

3. They ought to totally review what else USAID has been up to

[notadmblnd]

4. A little history. From USAID's website-

USAID's history goes back to the Marshall Plan reconstruction of Europe after World War Two and the Truman Administration's Point Four Program. In 1961, the Foreign Assistance Act was signed into law and USAID was created by executive order.

Since that time, USAID has been the principal U.S. agency to extend assistance to countries recovering from disaster, trying to escape poverty, and engaging in democratic reforms.

USAID is an independent federal government agency that receives overall foreign policy guidance from the Secretary of State. Our Work supports long-term and equitable economic growth and advances U.S. foreign policy objectives by supporting:

* economic growth, agriculture and trade;
* global health; and,
* democracy, conflict prevention and humanitarian assistance.

We provide assistance in five regions of the world:

* Sub-Saharan Africa;
* Asia;
* Latin America and the Caribbean,
* Europe and Eurasia; and
* The Middle East.

With headquarters in Washington, D.C., USAID's strength is its field offices around the world. We work in close partnership with private voluntary organizations, indigenous organizations, universities, American businesses, international agencies, other governments, and other U.S. government agencies. USAID has working relationships with more than 3,500 American companies and over 300 U.S.-based private voluntary organizations.

http://www.usaid.gov/about_usaid/