As a part of the eSriLanka initiative lead by the Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA), a US$5.2 million fund was established as an ICT Capacity Building Program (ICBP).

The overall goal of the ICBP is to strengthen, predominantly through private sector-led initiatives, the existing ICT industry in Sri Lanka; to encourage emerging sectors of the industry and entrepreneurship, to stimulate broad-based industry growth, and to promote international competitiveness.

As a guiding principle, the ICBP focuses on activities and investments expected to have an impact in the short to medium term and is intended to provide benefit to stakeholders across the broad spectrum of the Sri Lankan ICT industry, including, but not limited to; the software industry, IT enabled service industry, ITES, manufacturing, IT training providers and the expected growth of IT consulting services.

Private sector ICT users would be eligible for support under the ICBP to foster a greater utilization of ICT across the board, and to increase penetration of ICT into routine public and private sector business practices. The ICBP has three (3) broad sub-components:

ICT Industry Human Resource Development and Capacity Building

The development of human capital together with strategies for the promotion and development of industry and the creation of an enabling environment are three necessary pillars to the advancement of the Sri Lankan ICT industry. A series of strategies will be supported under the ICBP to strengthen human resources at each stratum; from senior management to young professionals who have just entered the ICT workforce and the development of pre-vocational skills for those about to enter the ICT workforce.

ICT Industry Promotion

Industry promotion has as its broad goal to provide funding and technical assistance support which will enable Sri Lanka to identify and take advantage of domestic and global business opportunities in the ICT field. In pursuit of this vision industry promotion will need to focus both on export and domestic markets, and develop specialized niche markets, including both software services and products and both lower and higher end BPO. Strategies supported under this program will encourage innovation and excellence, quality assurance, market specialization and market diversification.

Creating an Enabling Environment for ICT Industry Growth

The strategies in this program of activities recognize that development of ICT human capacity and promotion of the ICT industry will require an enabling environment in which to be effective. Strategies will support quality assurance through incentives for ICT companies to seek international accreditation. Additionally strategies will seek improve the profile of the ICT industry and the skill base of entrants into the ICT workforce by familiarizing career counsellors with the skills, attitude and knowledge expected by private sector ICT employers.

SLASSCOM as a part of the ICBP advisory committee plays a role to guide the utilization of the fund to benefit the industry.

SLASSCOM ICBP Advisory team can be reached at icbp@slasscom.lk

More information on the ICBP program is available online.