NCE Forum to create awareness on ICT sector’s $5 b export opportunity

The National Chamber of Exporters (NCE) will conduct a forum related to the ICT sector on 6 June at the Hotel Galadari, in collaboration with key stakeholders in the sector, to highlight the potential of becoming a $ 5 billion industry as envisaged in the Government’s Vision 2022, creating 200,000 direct job opportunities and enabling the launch of 1,000 startups. 

The National Exports Strategy (NES), which is to be presented to the Cabinet shortly for approval, has also identified the ICT sector among six key sectors for development to achieve the national export development and economic development targets set by the Government.

Further, the Government’s National Budget for 2018 under its ‘IT initiative’ will provide Rs. 3 billion to the sector over the next three years by way of grants, equity investments, credit facilities, mentoring, technical support, etc. for local startups, to attract foreign startups, create an enabling environment to support the establishment of incubators and enable SME IT companies to double their revenue in three years.

Further, the allocation of Rs. 300 million has been made for 2018 to implement various activities through the Export Development Board (EDB).

Given these developments, NCE Secretary General Shiham Marikar said the NCE’s objective for the forum was to create the necessary awareness among member companies of the Chamber within the sector and non-member enterprises in the sector as well as potential entrepreneurs about the opportunities with in the sector and assistance provided by the relevant stake sector institutions to enterprises and entrepreneurs in the sector. 

The Chief Guest at this forum will be Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. The event will see the participation of a representative gathering of professionals from the sector, business leaders and representatives of service providers in the state sector. Wickremesinghe will address the gathering to outline the vision of the Government for the sector. 

The Guest of Honour at the forum will be Prof. Rohan Samarajeewa, Chairman of the Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA), who will deliver the keynote address.

The above addresses will be followed by a panel discussion comprising professionals in the sector and representatives of relevant of service providers who will analyse and highlight the various issues of the sector and most importantly create awareness about the opportunities available to enterprises and entrepreneurs in the sector.

Secretary General Marikar also stated that there would be other professionals who will speak on the subject with regards to E-commerce and digital marketing.

The Secretary General added that for export-oriented companies in Sri Lanka, growth related to digital marketing was considered vital compared to all other marketing techniques. 

Marikar said the forum would be useful for entrepreneurs from the IT and BPO segments, including the respective CEOs, in order to gain knowledge about the importance of their IT department and operations for the future growth of their businesses.