Intel helps students to face challenges

Indika De Zoysa

e-Sri Lanka concept further strengthened :

Harshini Perera

Intel set up the Sri Lankan office five years ago as direct Intel operations. It initiated activities in the field of IT and launched the Intel Education Initiative Sri Lanka project. Sri Lanka was fortunate to be among the ten selected developing countries to set up Intel operations said the Country Business Manager, Sri Lanka of Intel EM Ltd, Indika De Zoysa.

Intel was invited by the Government in 2002 to begin operations in Sri Lanka because Sri Lanka had a potential market. The Government initiated the e-Sri Lanka plan along with which Sri Lanka came up with a comprehensive IT plan. It was a new entity to look at and it was endorsed by the Government, he said.

Q: What are your views about the e-Sri Lanka concept?

A: The ICTA was set up five years ago with World Bank funding. It is one of the areas that had not changed during the course of time along with the changing factors such as Government or their policies. The e-Sri Lanka concept has been continuously strengthened during the period.

At present, it is directly under the President's office. Hence, this is one of the areas growing worldwide. Therefore, we need to be aligned with it. It has been further strengthened as this year has been declared as the year of English and IT.

Q: How do you see the developments taking place in the field of IT?

A: When you compare the global situation in the IT sector, Sri Lanka is not behind. We are competing with the topmost software makers of the world. Our employees have passed out from the Universities of Moratuwa, Colombo and Peradeniya. We have also addressed the needs of global players such as HSBC and created an interest in them. We are achieving our targets today but we have to face the challenges of tomorrow.

Since India and China are coming up, we also should be prepared for the challenges of tomorrow. We are doing the right thing by combining English with IT together that goes hand in hand.

One of the key things I foresee towards the development of the sector, is to prepare the future generation in facing challenges. We already have over four million students under the Intel Education Initiative Sri Lanka and five-thousand teachers.

The first thing we need to do is to equip these people. At present we have a good infrastructure system.

There are over fifty-thousand Personal Computer (PCs) laboratories in the school system and over thirty-thousand trained teachers in the IT sector. There will be an expansion in the number of PCs up to thirty-five thousand in the two and a half years. Teachers should be trained not to use a PC but to teach using a PC in a classroom. Credit should be given to the Ministry of Education for launching the project.

Q: How does Sri Lanka fare in the IT sector?

A: Sri Lanka is not behind. However, what we have to do is to equip the future generation. We need to get our infrastructure developed to access the newest technology such as the Ymax broadband system. The new technology and telecommunication centres should be kept informed to reach the rural areas of the country.

The broadband rates need to be reduced to encourage the new generation. Schoolchildren should be given access to the new technology. They should acquire the knowledge of the 21st century.

Q: How would your company respond to the openings in the North and East of Sri Lanka?

A: As a business entity, it will provide a big potential for the IT sector. Jaffna as the capital of the Northern province opening up is like any other country opening up. We need to implement the correct infrastructure required for IT since labour and land would be available in those areas. Development should take place with IT and other manufacturing facilities.

Q: What will be your role in keeping the Intel ranking as the world's 100 most powerful brands by 2009?

A: Intel being a component brand has succeeded in this field. We change the way people work. For example, we changed the way a student can gain knowledge. Technology will reduce time and energy. Thus for example a child in Mahawilachchiya may not have a pair of slippers but he may earn thirty-thousand rupees owing to his knowledge in IT.

We changed the teaching method of the teacher. Even children have changed their way of learning while using classmade PCs that are durable and user friendly. Our influence on their lives had been for their betterment.

Q: How would you work with the other competitors in the industry?

A: They are not competitors but fellow travellers. We work hand in hand with all other fellow travellers such as Aser, Oracle and HP.

What we want to ensure is the right product for the right market. We have not been biased towards anybody.

Therefore, we work with the entire system. We have become the trusted adviser to many Governments to make policies since we are neutral.

Q: What are the new developments in Intel?

A: We try to produce faster processors. We launched Corei7 which is the fastest processor in the world three months ago.

At present we are promoting the green concept, as the new processors are 40 percent power consuming. Intel will produce Halegent free, eco friendly PCs in the future. New products are coming in as affordable PCs with higher end PCs. The Atom and Net Book PCs are such products with different facilities. We have to popularise the Broadband system.

Q: What are your plans for 2009?

A: Intel is working on a concept called 10.01.01. That is in 2011 we target 10 million (half the population) to have access to internet in Sri Lanka which at present is 1.5 million. If one can afford a mobile phone he/she can definitely afford to access the internet.

There are around 200, 000 broadbrand connections in the country. Research data shows that if ten million people have access to the internet, this would show a GDP growth of one billion dollars in the country. We drive with fellow travellers to achieve that target.

Q: What is the position of your company in the context of the economic recession?

A: There is an impact on individuals buying PCs. But all in all the Government's use of PCs has shown much growth.

Q: What would you like to do during your leisure?

A: I engage in Sports, especially Rugger at club level and Cricket. I also spend considerable time surfing the internet.