Two years of develop ICT capacity

The 10th Private Sector Forum organised by the Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTA) was held recently. It is a platform used by the ICT industry and other stakeholders to exchange views on the ICT Agency driven programmes.

The highlight of the event was the completion of two years of the ICT Capacity Building Programme (ICBP), a programme implemented by ICTA which is a US $ 5.2 million initiative to provide a short-term boost to private sector and provide a comprehensive update on the developments of this programme was given at this forum.

The ICT Capacity Building Programme (ICBP) is a business support initiative, conceptualised by Sri Lanka’s ICT Agency in conjunction with the private sector, with the vision of enhancing the nation’s ICT capacity competitiveness in the global business arena.

Its primary focus is the private sector enterprises engages in hardware, software IT enabled services and ICT training providers and is funded by the World Bank. ICBP is an islandwide opportunity for growth and is achieved through the implementation of 27 strategies focusing on three broad aspects namely Human Resource Development, Promoting the Local Industry and Creating an Enabling Environment. During the last two years of existence ICBP has seen many of these strategies implemented.

According to the ICT Workforce Survey 2007, the Sri Lankan ICT industry can absorb 3,000-4,000 employees on an annual basis. Sri Lanka’s inability to meet these needs has had significant negative impacts on its ICT industry.

To develop a plan to increase the number of Sri Lankans employable by the ICT industry, the ICBP supported the five associations that are represented in its advisory committee in hosting the National ICT Capacity Summit (NICS) recently.

A blueprint was developed covering a range of industry specific topics with a focus on identifying policies and actions to accelerate the growth of Sri Lanka’s ICT potential was presented at this forum.

As a first step a career guidance fair was held from September 1 and 2, in order to create awareness regarding ICT careers among students and other decision markers.