Sri Lanka@100 with US support hosts exponential growth webinar

• Innovation expert Paul D. Roberts shares key insights

Sri Lanka@100, with support from the United States, recently hosted a public webinar featuring Paul D. Roberts, an expert in methods for companies and entrepreneurs to leverage evolving technologies such as artificial intelligence to drive accelerated business growth. 

Attended by 300 participants, the session focused on how businesses can shape Sri Lanka’s economic future in a complex and rapidly changing environment. 

“This concept of exponential growth is critical in helping Sri Lanka achieve high-income status so it can better compete on the world stage,” said Debra Mosel, United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Deputy Mission Director for Sri Lanka and Maldives. “With initiatives like Sri Lanka@100, the United States is helping Sri Lankan firms to effectively navigate current challenges, become more resilient, and increase profits and employment.” 

SL@100 co-founder and Stax Managing Director Ruwindhu Peiris emphasised the vital importance of programs such as this to help build Sri Lanka’s future: “At Sri Lanka@100, we believe that when a large share of companies and individuals in our country starts thinking innovatively about ways to leverage emerging technologies, we will start to see transformational growth. SL@100 is helping to put ideas into action to create the next generation of high-income Sri Lankan businesses.” 

SL@100 is a private sector-led business development platform that was launched in 2020 with support from USAID. This initiative works with high potential small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to optimise internal operations, enhance product portfolios, access new markets, and attract capital to help Sri Lanka become a high-income country within 100 years of independence. 

Webinars like this are part of SL@100’s capacity-building efforts and are open to a broad audience of SMEs, entrepreneurs, and young leaders. The Exponential Growth webinar was supported by leading Sri Lankan organisations and businesses, including NDB Bank, SLASSCOM, AMCHAM, Daily FT, and the CFA Society of Sri Lanka. To find out more about Sri Lanka@100, please visit https://srilanka100.lk/.