High language and IT skills, coupled with low costs, makes Romania a new haven for outsourcing, such as call centres, help desks, IT and payroll, says The Diplomat.

In financial attractiveness, people skills and the business environment, a 2009 AT Kearney Global Services Location Index shows Romania climbed from the 39th to 19th place last year as an outsourcing location.

Meanwhile, Europe’s leaders, including Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary, have fallen as increasing costs for companies erode their competitiveness.

IT outsourcing consultants charge less

The economic downturn has taken its toll on the IT services industry, and consequently, on the consultancies that swelled to support corporate outsourcing efforts in better days, writes CIO.

Over the past two years, everyone, from the IT outsourcing arms of the biggest general business advisories to the consulting divisions of IT service providers, to the leading outsourcing-specific consultancies, has been hit with layoffs, consolidation and upheaval.

But what’s been difficult for the consulting industry and the community of IT outsourcing experts it employed may have an upside for IT organisations in need of external expertise. Some of the talent that once logged $300 an hour for the likes of IBM, TPI or EquaTerra have set up shop for themselves, and – minus the overhead of big bosses – are available at as much as half the cost.

Chengdu beckons Indian firms

Chengdu in China is wooing Indian firms to set up software development centres in that country’s IT hub and major outsourcing destination, states the Economic Times.

“Chengdu is an excellent gateway to China for Indian companies with its huge talent base, low operating cost, government support and presence of large multinational IT and outsourcing firms,” Chengdu mayor Ge Honglin says.

“As software development will be in English for the domestic market and exports, language will not be a problem for companies and their professionals,” Ge adds.