Kolkata: US lawmakers are gradually coming to terms with the issue of outsourcing, realising it was an irreversible global process, Economic Minister-Counsellor of the US Embassy in India, Lee Brudvig said today (Jun 3, 2004).

''There is an increasing understanding among lawmakers in the US that outsourcing was a global and irreversible process. In recent times, seven out of eight anti-outsourcing bills were withdrawn,'' Brudvig said during an interaction with members of the Indian Chamber of Commerce.

Stating that the anti-outsourcing bills were introduced as "Hero Bills" that sought to make heroes out of their authors, he said that there was "tremendous pressure" from corporate US in having the bills withdrawn.

''The demand cannot be ignored, especially in the times of corporate funding of election campaign,'' he said.

According to Brudvig, the US wanted to support India's economic liberalisation process, bring in private sector funding for infrastructure, expand public-private partnership, help promote rural and small business development and give technical support for financial market modernisation.

''We want this because it is good for India and good for US-India economic relations and regional stability in the medium-term. We want to work with Indian partners to help channel resources to medium-sized and micro enterprises,'' Brudvig said.