New York, June 25 (IANS) Contrary to general belief that outsourcing to India was taking away jobs from America, Indian companies were in fact also generating jobs in countries like the US and the United Kingdom, according to Indian Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath.

This way they were making industry more competitive and thereby sharing their success with the communities worldwide, he observed while launching an India Business Forum here on Friday to facilitate dialogue among companies of Indian origin operating globally and create channels for communications with New Delhi.

Suggesting the establishment of a Trade Promotion Council in USA, Nath said the new forum, structured at the initiative of Confederation of Indian Industries (CII), should plan future meetings and open discussions on challenges faced by Indian companies.

Describing New Delhi as a facilitator and enabler, he said a facilitation cell had been set up in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry to coordinate events that strengthen dialogue between the Indian government and Indian firms abroad.

Tata Group's chief representative- North America, David Good, who was named the American Chair of the India Business Forum, also highlighted the collective contributions of various Indian companies to the American economy, including job creation.

CII Chief Mentor Tarun Das hoped that the India Business Forum would see further expansion quickly. At present 51 organizations and corporations, which participated in the inaugural event, constitute the forum.

Corporate participants shared their concerns and thoughts on how government and industry can work together to address business challenges.

The forum would meet again in July, the Indian ambassador to US, Ronen Sen, announced suggesting regular frequent meetings of the forum as such initiatives in the area of trade and commerce helped boost bilateral relations.

Later at a reception hosted by the Indian American Council(IAC), Nath said all inclusive growth was India's biggest challenge and the government's objective. Referring to the dramatic changes in India, he emphasised the role of persons of Indian origin in development.

Institutional mechanisms like IAC impart a strategic dimension to the process of engagement between the Government of India and PIOs, he said, expressing confidence that ongoing economic reforms will continue to add momentum to economic growth.

Knowledge Commission chairman Sam Pitroda, who also heads the IAC, said its objectives included enhancing Indian investment in the US, connecting Indian Americans to India's development needs, updating US government and industry on India's economic performance and promoting an overall understanding of India in the global community.

The IAC session culminated a series of eight initiatives by the CII to highlight the increasing impact that India and India Inc is having throughout the world. Spread over nine days, these initiatives were aimed at doubling bilateral trade over the next three years.