The National Association of Software and Services Companies on Thursday said the re-election of George W Bush as US President would boost outsourcing and hoped that contentious issues like visa cap and social security paid by Indian IT workers in America would be sorted out.

"We are glad that President George Bush is back in office as we know his policies. After his re-election, we would see more announcements by companies on outsourcing," Nasscom President Kiran Karnik told newspersons.

He said software exports to the US from India account for 68 per cent of our total software exports and have been growing at around 30 per cent a year. "We are confident that with George Bush getting re-elected, the growth momentum will continue," he said.

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"Because of the rhetoric against outsourcing, many companies were not willing to talk about their plans to move work to India. But now, we would see more announcements by companies on outsourcing that will spur their peers to look at the concrete benefit it brings," he said.

"We also hope the Bush administration will be supportive of visa issues, so that there is unhindered movement of professionals," Karnik added.

The IT industry body has been working for the last two years on refund of social security contributions paid by Indians when they go on temporary work visas to the US.

"Social security contributions of Indian IT workers in the US amount to $500 million a year but they get no benefit. This figure will grow. We have pursued the matter for the last two years but with no forward movement," Karnik said.

"A decision on this would have to be taken at the highest level and with the re-election of pro-India Bush, we hope it will be sorted out," he added.

He said: "Our business interests coincide with the US interests on visas and other issues and there will be continuity and stability with no short-term fluctuations."