China's Vice Premier Wang Qishan said on Monday that the country should take advantage of the rare opportunity to expand the outsourcing industry.

The State Council has identified 20 pilot cities to take part in a program that offers perks to businesses that opt to participate in outsourcing. The program will help ensure economic growth, industry restructuring and the job promotion -- notably for the college graduates, according to Wang in an industry meeting held on Monday in the east city of Nanjing.

The government would offer more support in tax breaks, financing, and vocational training, Wang said.

The Vice Premier noted it was important to nurture China's outsourcing industry, and local governments should create sound legal conditions to pave the way for the industry expansion.

Twenty cities, including Beijing, Shanghai, Xi'an, Suzhou and Hangzhou, have been designated for pilot service outsourcing programs. Beginning Jan. 1, these companies are eligible for tax breaks, financial support, subsidies and intellectual property rights protection, the Ministry of Commerce (MOC) said on Monday.

More multinational companies and financial institutions, hard hit by the global financial crisis, outsource their business to less costly regions. This creates an opportunity for Chinese outsourcing companies, said vice minister of MOC Ma Xiuhong.

McKinsey, the New York based consultancy, said in a report last month that China posted rapid growth in the business but was lagged behind India, whose market value was nine times that of China.

The report said that despite the challenges, China still had potential to become the main outsourcing destination in the future.

(Xinhua News Agency February 4, 2009)