Microsoft supports the National IT-BPO Summit 2007
NATIONAL ICT Capacity Summit 2007 which was organized jointly by The
Information Communication Technology Agency, (ICTA) The Ministry of
Education and the President’s Office, saw Microsoft coming on board as
the Platinum Sponsor.
This is in line with the government’s initiative to reap the maximum
benefits of the existing talent within the country by upgrading the
quality of the IT workforce.
Country Manager, Microsoft Sri Lanka Sriyan de S Wijeyeratne, said,
“Microsoft was pleased to support the National ICT Capacity Summit 07 as
Platinum Sponsor. Since our formal entry into Sri Lanka in 2003,
Microsoft has sought to provide enhanced opportunities and exposure to
Sri Lanka’s IT professionals in order to raise the profile of the
industry.
|
Marketing Manager of Microsoft Sri Lanka, Ms. Manoji
Samararatne, addressing the gathering at the Press
Conference on NICS IT-BPO Summit |
Our commitment to uplifting the industry is a reflection of our
strong belief that Sri Lanka has a vast pool of talent, much of it
latent, which, with the right opportunities, can compete at the highest
level internationally.”
He further added, “Microsoft Sri Lanka has embraced principals of
corporate social responsibility in its business strategies and we have,
since inception, molded business decisions with due consideration of
their impact on varied stakeholders. Many of our community service
projects have been a reflection of our focus on sustainable development.
Through these and many other measures, Microsoft aims to provide the
general public with opportunities wherever possible to familiarise
themselves and experience the benefits of IT.”
Microsoft’s involvement in building capacity within the ICT industry
is extensive. In 2005, Microsoft signed an MOU with the Government of
Sri Lanka, under which MS would contribute towards the development and
facilitation of a vibrant local software economy, through a wide sphere
of activities.
Microsoft has thus funded several schools under the 100 Navalowa Labs
programme of the Ministry of Education. This involves providing free IT
training to teachers and donations of software and curriculum.
The Company has also strongly encouraged innovation within
universities extending support to leading universities and setting up a
Mobile Technology Research Lab at the University of Moratuwa. MS also
provided two University students with six-month internships at the
Microsoft Research lab in India.
To impart basic IT skills to migrant workers, Microsoft together with
the Foreign Employment Bureau and SLANA conducted a series of IT
training sessions for migrant workers and their families.
The multi pronged training process includes IT, skills development,
provision of information and mentoring towards enhancing the
employability/economic security. |
