"The only constant is change."  That motto certainly applies to the marketplace.  This struck me yet again as I read an interesting Wall Street Journal article earlier this week on India's famed high-tech sector, whose success is being challenged ("Indian Tech Outsourcers Aim to Widen Contracts").   

Indian high-tech is looking to climb the ladder, moving above the software maintenance and database upgrade work it has done for U.S. and European companies.  Indian companies want to do on-site work, like managing entire IT departments.  Infosys and Wipro are looking to beat IBM, Hewlett-Packard and Accenture. This move is coming because revenue is down, due to the global economic slowdown, but also in reaction to competition, coming from companies based in Vietnam, the Philippines and even the U.S.  Experts are divided on whether India can pull off this upgrade.  What's clear is that for India, and the U.S., and everyone, to be static is to lose.          

India is a key country, an increasing security and economic partner for us.  We have differences, especially on trade, but the U.S. and India stand to gain far more from cooperation than confrontation.  Cooperation can stand some good competition though, and I'll be actively rooting for U.S. high-tech firms to meet the Indian challenge by maintaining their tech and business supremacy.  In Washington, we should be doing all we can to help them.  Passing trade agreements would mean greater market access and intellectual property protection, which these firms need.         

Another economic story catching my eye was a recent Washington Times report that the U.S.-based Six Flags amusement company is planning to build a theme park in Calabar, Nigeria, to open by 2013 ("Six Flags Eyes Theme Park in Nigeria").  Having chaired the Africa Subcommittee for eight years, I've been to Nigeria more than once.  Trade and investment between Africa and the U.S. remains near and dear to me.  I'm a big amusement park fan too, representing a congressional district very near Disneyland.  Yet hold the rollercoaster! 

Nigeria is about as tough a business climate as there is.  Period.  A Six Flags official stated, "We have certainly done our due diligence."  I'd do it again.  Six Flags filed for Chapter 11 protection in June.  I'm not sure Nigeria is the way out.