Narayana Murthy, chairman of leading IT services provider Infosys Technologies, has taken a swipe at claims the company's offshoring policy has reduced jobs in Australia.

Speaking at a business seminar in Sydney last night, Murthy said the Australian technology industry held much opportunity, and Infosys would continue to seek talent wherever there was "value for money".

However, concerns that Indian services providers like Infosys, which has a subsidiary in Melbourne, were "offshoring" jobs away from Australia were flawed, according to Murthy.

"I think there's one important point here," he said during discussion on the issue.

"A lot of times we've had people say that Indian companies are taking away jobs from Australia.

"But I don't know how many of you know that of the $6.5 billion dollars in trade between India and Australia, $5.5 billion in exports are from Australia to India, and a billion dollars [are] from India to Australia.

"So [trade] is very heavily in favour of Australia," he said. "I think we have to concentrate more on Australia exporting to India, and India exporting to Australia."

In Sydney to address the Forbes Global CEO Conference this week, Murthy applied his definition of globalisation to technology trade between the two countries.

"My mindset is ... every country has to create a certain competitive advantage, and compete in the global market.

"Australia has the necessary wealth, and India [the labour], so why not?," he asked.

Murthy said Infosys was created as a global company and would continue to source labour from the best value location for its customers.

"From day one ... because the market didn't exist in India, from day one we had to focus on the global market. Which was good because we benchmarked ourselves against the best in the global market in ... quality assurance, customer satisfaction."

"We always say which is the market that is best of breed?

"There are activities that are best taken up near the customer, and activities that are best taken up overseas," he said.

As a sourcing destination, Australia was ahead of India in some respects, according to Murthy, particularly in talent levels.

"Australia's going well," he said, "I think Garry's [Infosys Australia chief executive officer Garry Ebeyan] done a good job."

However, he stopped short of saying Australia could challenge India as a prime sourcing destination.

"India will continue to be a leader in hi-tech services," he said.

"In information technology, I believe there are inherent advantages for India -- the large number of graduates that are coming out of university, better value for money.

"But then I would say Australia is second to none in terms of leveraging the opportunities that you have."

Infosys has offices in 16 countries.

Murthy received strong support from recently-retired National ICT Australia chairman Neville Roach, who described national debate over offshoring as "largely positive".

He also praised the company's investment in Australia. Infosys purchased Melbourne-based Expert Information Systems (now Infosys Australia) for $31 million in December 2003.

"In our industry, when people can sell their companies for $10-20 million ... it's great for the future of our industry.

"Unless we can produce people like Murthy, I don't know that Australia can have a big industry," Roach said.

Murthy will attend a NICTA advisory council meeting while in Australia this week.

He recently received an honorary doctorate from Queensland University of Technology, and will meet Infosys customers and employees.