IT/BPO jobs worth US $ 1 b by 2015

The Sri Lankan IT and BPO industry is projected to grow by 26 percent in 2011 with export earnings estimated at US$ 390 million for 2010. Sri Lanka has set a target of US$ 1 billion revenue with employment of 100,000 by 2015 in the IT and BPO industry. One of the key prerequisite for this growth to be realized is the acceleration of human resource capacity development in the industry.

The SLASSCOM FutureCareers initiative is aimed at expanding the talent pool available to the industry as part of this Capacity building program. SLASSCOM FutureCareers initiative will focus on connecting Sri Lankan youth to the exciting job opportunities in the knowledge service industry for them to become truly global citizens.

The IT and BPO industry offers exciting work, fun atmosphere, global exposure, fast paced career progression and even an opportunity for one to become an entrepreneur.

At the EDEX expo SLASSCOM will launch a short documentary on the careers in IT-BPO industry with the endorsement of Ministry of Higher Education, Ministry of Education and ICTA.

The FutureCareers documentary will highlight the work opportunities and experience from young people employed within the IT and BPO industry across a wide spectrum of jobs to give potential new entrants to the industry an overview of the opportunities.

Walk in interviews would be conducted by some of the companies. Dialog, HSBC, Providence, RRDonnelly, Innodata Isogen, MMBL Cyber Skills, Virtusa, IFS, Hsenid, Mphasis and Infomate will be some of the featured employers for students to discuss career opportunities and even have the possibility to gain employment.

We invite students to visit the SLASSCOM FutureCareers pavilion to meet leading IT-BPO companies and how you can become part of this exciting industry. Students can also join online at www.FutureCareers.lk to learn about the industry.

SLASSCOM invites the industry professionals to also join at www.FutureCareers.lk to encourage and offer their support and guidance to a new entrant to the industry.

"We aim to leverage the EDEX platform to primarily focus on creating awareness among youth about the benefits of selecting IT or BPO as a career path. Our aspiration is to attract large number of youth to join the fast growing IT-BPO industry in Sri Lanka," SLASSCOM Vice President and Director Madu Ratnayake said.

EDEX is the pioneering higher education and careers exhibition in Sri Lanka organized by Royal College Union attracting the largest and most diverse number of local and overseas participants held annually in Colombo and Kandy.

The 8th EDEX expo will be held on January 22, 23 and 24 at the BMICH Colombo and at the Kandy City Centre on January 26 and 27 respectively under its theme for 2011, 'Be Wise, EDEX-Wise'.