“APICTA – 2015 will give an impetus to achieve Sri Lanka’s ICT targets”

The Information and Communication Technology (ICT) industry in Sri Lanka is optimistic of earning $ 5 billion in foreign exchange through the export of its products and services by the year 2022. In addition, this important sector is also positive of creating more than 250,000 job opportunities during this time period in its drive to push the industry to new heights. 

An invaluable opportunity has emerged at this juncture to lay the foundation to achieve this national target, says Dr. Dileepa De Silva, Chairman, Asia Pacific ICT Alliance (APICTA). 

The APICTA – 2015 International Contest and Awards ceremony will be held in Sri Lanka this time. Around 650+ ICT innovators, experts, investors, traders and entrepreneurs from 16 member countries are expected to participate in this global event described as “the largest ICT awards ceremony in the Asia Pacific region”, in Colombo from 18 to 20 November. 

As an outstanding academic who pioneered Sri Lanka’s ICT sector, Dr. Dileepa De Silva is widely credited for his indefatigable endeavours to develop the overall industry.

By Dr. Dileepa De Silva

The Government has initiated a national development plan to transform Sri Lanka into the “knowledge hub” of South Asia. The primary objectives of this development strategy is to, in comparison to countries in the South Asian region, equip Sri Lanka with better and more developed office network facilities, have in place improved infrastructure facilities, raise a fully accomplished workforce fluent in the English language and a solid ICT background and make Sri Lanka a country with minimum cost of living.

The initial goal in terms of this national strategy is to push up the ICT literacy rate to 75% by the year 2016, generate $ 1 billion in foreign exchange and create 100,000 employment opportunities in this sphere. The next phase will be to earn $ 5 billion in foreign exchange by the year 2022 and generate 250,000 new job opportunities within the industry.

The hosting of APICTA – 2015 in Sri Lanka offers an excellent opportunity to lay a firm foundation towards achieving these set targets. The objective of this globally recognised event, organised by the Asia Pacific ICT Alliance (APICTA), is to create greater awareness on ICT and strengthen societal links through this process. 

APICTA is an alliance of national ICT organisations representing their respective economy to build and enhance a mutually cooperative network to promote ICT, enhance technology innovations, capability and adoption, and encourage the development of indigenous ICT solutions for the global market. Information and Communications Technology (ICT) have had a significant impact in the way communities communicate, work, live and play. 

It is key to entrepreneurial and economic growth as well as wealth creation in knowledge-based economies. With the recognition of ICT as a fast growing, pervasive and ubiquitous activity and industry to support the economy’s growth agenda, APICTA epitomises the mutual collaboration of economies coming together and working to further recognise this important phenomenon. Sixteen countries including Australia, China, Malaysia, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Singapore and Thailand, which have developed economies, are members of the Alliance.

APICTA is an international program based on the objectives of identifying and recognising innovative indigenous ICT products, solutions, services and applications, promoting the development and market deployment of ICT products and solutions, promoting and facilitating trade, technology exchange and collaborations amongst APICTA members and contribute to the development of ICT talents in the Asia Pacific region.

Established in 2001, APICTA was the brainchild of Dr. Mahathir Mohamed, the founder of modern Malaysia and the country’s incumbent Prime Minister. In its history, this will be the first-ever time that the global event will be held in Sri Lanka. Another salient feature is that Sri Lanka is the incumbent Chair of this regional ICT Alliance. In the past, the APICTA International Contest and Awards ceremony had been held in Australia, China, Malaysia, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Singapore and Thailand.

APICTA – 2015 will be held in Sri Lanka from November 16 to 22. It is a rare honour that amongst all the South Asian nations, Sri Lanka was selected as the first country to host this international parley. It will give an impetus to Sri Lanka’s ICT industry and boost the country’s image as a top destination in the vital information and computer technology sector.

With around 650+ ICT innovators, experts, investors, traders and entrepreneurs from 16 member countries in attendance, this international event will offer Sri Lanka a viable opportunity to forge new collaborations under foreign investments and also help the country to unveil its products and services on a bigger scale to the international community, in addition to showcasing our talents to the world.

To coincide with APICTA – 2015, a two-day Business Forum will be held on 20-21 November. This prestigious event is open to entrepreneurs in the ICT sphere, and it is an ideal opportunity for these key industry players to expand their knowledge and further develop their business enterprises.

With a sizeable number of global ICT industry players participating in this Forum, many rounds of discussions have been lined up on the key subject of increasing exports and imports. The biggest round of deliberations in the ICT industry on carving out markets for new innovations and establishing more commercial collaborations will also take place during this event.

The 2015 Students’ Forum, which will be held on 20 November, is a fine opportunity for Sri Lanka’s student population to develop themselves through a dialogue with foreign students. They can exchange ideas and also gather knowledge and understanding on new innovations and software in the ICT field and have a dialogue with leading figures in the industry.

Students who win the National Best Quality Software Awards (NBQSA) organised by British Computer Society (BCS), the Chartered Institute for IT, Sri Lanka Section, can represent the country annually at APICTA. Similarly, contestants who win the Young Computer Scientist Competition (YCS), organised by Sri Lanka Federation of Information and Technology Industry Sri Lanka (FITIS), can also represent Sri Lanka at APICTA annually. This year also, the winners are representing the country at this prestigious event. On previous occasions also, contestants who represented Sri Lanka have competed with 16 countries in the Asia Pacific region and bagged gold, silver and bronze awards.

To coincide with the unveiling of APICTA – 2015 Awards, the INFOTEL – 2015 Exhibition, considered the biggest show in the ICT sector, will also be held from 20-22 November at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH) in Colombo.

This is the first-ever time that an ICT-related global conference on innovations, a Business Forum, Students’ Forum and an exhibition on an international scale are being held within the same week in Sri Lanka. This will give a big boost to the ICT industry in the country. 

President Maithripala Sirisena has declared 16- November 22 as the “National Information and Communication Technology Week”. This is the time period these key events are being held in Sri Lanka. This is the first time that such a special week dedicated to the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sphere has ever been declared at a national level in the country.

APICTA – 2015 has been organised in Colombo by the Sri Lanka Federation of Information and Technology Industry Sri Lanka (FITIS) and the British Computer Society (BCS), the Chartered Institute for IT, Sri Lanka Section. The national coordinator for this year’s event is the Information and Computer Technology Association (ICTA).