What They Said: The U.S. Election

President Barack Hussein Obama's reelection in the United States was welcomed by the Indian government, but provoked mixed reactions from business leaders, who remain concerned about Mr. Obama's business outsourcing policies for India.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh: Welcomed President Obama's second term in office, offering his “warmest congratulations.”  He said Mr. Obama's victory gave him a mandate to continue pursuing global peace and progress.

“I have no doubt that there is much more we can do together to further strengthen the India-U.S. partnership and thereby advance peace and stability, expand mutual economic opportunities, harness the potential of science and technology, innovation and higher education and empower our people to address global challenges,” the prime minister said in a congratulatory letter posted on Twitter by a government spokesman.

Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India: A press statement posted on the ministry website said: “India and the U.S. have developed extensive bilateral cooperation and partnership based on shared values based on belief in democracy, the rule of law and pluralism. We look forward to continuing to deepen and widen the engagement between India and the U.S. in the years ahead.”

Adi Godrej, chairman of the Godrej Group: “This is a good development for India. Between two large economies there will be issues and concerns. Outsourcing is also a concern and I hope it will be addressed soon,” he said, according to a PTI report cited by Hindustan Times.

Pramod Bhasin, former chief executive of Genpact, one of India's largest business process outsourcing companies: “I think there will be greater implications as he focusses on issues like unemployment. I just hope he remains true to free trade and all the other things that he talks about so well,” Mr. Bhasin said of President Obama, in a PTI report cited by Hindu stan Times.

R. V. Kanoria, president of the Federation of India Chambers of Commerce and Industry: “We hope that the new Obama Administration will take a long-term and practical view on issues such as outsourcing which ultimately are in the US national interest because they help US companies drive down costs paving the way for expansion,” he said in a statement.