Americans Seek Opportunity in Booming Bangalore
BANGALORE, India
The 22-year-old Milwaukee native works in marketing at Infosys Technologies Ltd., India’s second-largest software exporter. He’s part of a small but growing number of young Americans moving to Bangalore and other Indian cities to beef up their resumes, launch businesses or study globalization in one of the world’s fastest-growing economies.
Despite the traffic-choked streets, unsteady electrical supply, occasional digestive troubles and other daily frustrations of life in India, Linkon has no regrets.
“Moving to Bangalore has been the best decision of my life,” he says. “Asia will only become more significant to the global economy, and having this background is invaluable.”
Nearly 800 Americans are working or interning at information technology companies in India, and the number is expected to grow, according to India’s National Association of Software and Services Companies, or Nasscom.
India’s economy has averaged 8 percent growth over the past three years, driven by the rapid expansion of its software, IT and business-process outsourcing industries. President Bush’s recent visit to India underscores the strengthening economic and political ties between the two countries.
India’s economy still trails China’s in size and growth rate. But unlike China, English is widely spoken in India, making its culture and career opportunities more accessible to foreign workers.
