SLASSCOM launches Global Referral Program in UAE

Chamil Mendis

Mudith Uswatta

Sandra De Zoysa

The Sri Lanka Association of Software and Services Companies (SLASSCOM) has been a trailblazer for the IT/BPM sector in Sri Lanka by continuously supporting the growth of the industry to reach global

heights, with proactive strategies launched for local businesses to establish lucrative connections in the international market.

The Global Referral Program entails SLASSCOM acting as the facilitator and adding value by providing information to referrers, hosting networking opportunities, and tracking and monitoring progress. Companies in the program are bound by a common Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to ensure that the interests of all parties are protected and that the process is convenient. The Global Referral Program covers businesses under six verticals: software products/solutions, software development services, BPO, KPO, digital agencies and AI/ML service providers. 

Continuing this trend of linking Sri Lankan businesses to collaborate with global business opportunities, SLASSCOM recently hosted a webinar to introduce its Global Referral Program to the UAE market. 

 The webinar was hosted by the SLASSCOM Global Trade and Investment Forum. Global Referral Program Workstream Head Mudith Uswatta provided participants with an introduction to the SLASSCOM Global Referral Program and cited some case studies on how the Global Referral Program has been driving growth in the Sri Lankan IT/BPM space.

He further explained: “A new generation of Sri Lankan companies are now poised for global growth but need assistance to increase visibility for their brands, get introductions to potential clients and be exposed to opportunities to prove their capabilities, and develop long-term relationships in their target markets. We see the Global Referral program as the way forward to make this happen.”

The webinar was jointly organised with the Sri Lankan IT Professionals Association in UAE. Representing the entity, its President Chamil Mendis stated: “We are very happy to partner with SLASSCOM, one of the most prestigious and futuristic associations in the IT landscape in Sri Lanka, in this endeavour. It is our pleasure to connect lucrative opportunities in the UAE with SLASSCOM members and to work together and harvest potential collaborations. Having commenced operations early this year, the Sri Lankan IT Professionals Association in UAE are keen to improve Sri Lankan IT professionals' presence in the UAE and help Sri Lankan IT companies find business opportunities in the UAE.” 

“In order to achieve our vision of generating $ 5 billion in revenue by 2025, it is imperative that we support the IT/BPM industry in the country to expand their presence in global markets. Our Global Referral Program, which has been already established in several countries, is the ideal platform to build relationships between Sri Lankan professional expats and Sri Lankan companies,” stated SLASSCOM Chairperson Sandra De Zoysa.

Participated by a large plethora of professionals from a range of industry segments in the UAE, the event had a highly interactive Q&A session followed by a virtual networking session, where participants openly discussed collaborations and initiated pathways towards mutually beneficial business engagements.

SLASSCOM is the national chamber for the knowledge and innovation industry in Sri Lanka that acts as the catalyst of growth by facilitating trade and business, propagation of education and employment, encouraging research and innovation, supporting the creation of a forward-thinking and progressive national policy framework.

SLASSCOM has over 350 member companies accounting for approximately 90% of the IT-BPM industry export revenue and drives the Imagination Economy: Sri Lanka’s industry of the future, with the potential to be the No. 1 export revenue earner for Sri Lanka. SLASSCOM is supported in this initiative by their Corporate Sponsor Dialog Enterprise.