ICTA to launch four year ICT capacity building programme for private sector

The Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA) has formulated an ICT Capacity Building Programme (ICBP) to catalyse the development of ICT capacity of the country. The ICBP has three sub-components, ICT industry human resource development, industry promotion and creating an enabling environment for ICT industry growth.

These programmes will be implemented through 27 strategies identified in consultation with the private sector.

"As a guiding principle the ICBP focuses on activities and investments expected to have an impact on the local ICT industry in the short to medium term. Chosen Strategies are expected to supply a "kick start" to ICT development in the country and are frequently of a "one - off" nature," Programme Manager of the ICT Agency Prasanna Karunarathna said.

The overall goal of the Policy and Capacity Building Programme, 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.

The ICBP is intended to provide benefit to stakeholders across the Sri Lankan ICT industry, including, 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," Karunarathna said. Additionally, investments funded under the ICBP are expected to contribute to social harmony, expanded employment opportunities and geographical and regional equity.

Expanded employment opportunities may be (a) directly in the ICT industry; (b) indirectly in organisations that will arise to support the ICT industry, or (c) additional employment opportunities in traditional industries and government, as institutions in these sectors adopt more advanced computer systems.

The programme will also fund technical assistance to undertake an industry training needs analysis the results of which will be used to rank training needs in order of industry demand to create the national priority training list to be supported under the programme.