Korea Eximbank completes feasibility study on ICT hub for secondary education project

The Export-Import Bank of Korea (Korea Eximbank) has completed the KSP-ADB Joint Consulting Program for establishment of an ICT hub for secondary education project. 

The dissemination seminar

The dissemination seminar was held on 26 July at the Ministry of Education with the chairmanship of Secretary Sunil Hettiarachchi during which the Korean consultant team presented the final results of the study to the government officials.

The proposed project covers an island wide plan targeting national, provincial and zonal level ICT education. National Content Development Centre (NCDC) and two PICTECs (Provincial ICT Education Centres) in Eastern and Southern provinces will be newly built, and five PICTECs and 99 ZICTECs (Zonal ICT Education Centres) will be fully equipped with education materials, network system, office equipment etc. In addition, to make the ICT hub more sustainable capacity building programs for government officials and consultation on content development and e-Learning will be provided. 

Today the urban population of Sri Lanka records a computer literacy level of 39.2% while computer literacy in rural areas and estates are at a considerably lower 25.5% and 9% respectively. This phenomenon has become a hindrance to realising Sri Lanka’s development priority of moving towards a digital economy. In this context, when completed this project will provide not only a strong foundation to realise a digital economy and a knowledge based society but also ICT savvy labour force for labour market to boost Sri Lankan economy.

The Export-Import Bank of Korea (Korea Eximbank) provides Official Development Assistance (ODA) for international development and cooperation. The bank signed its first ODA loan agreement with Sri Lanka in 1990, for the rehabilitation of the Colombo-Galle road. As of now, the bank has approved $ 806 million for 28 development projects in Sri Lanka. 

Korea Eximbank also provides financing for international trade and overseas investment, to promote bilateral economic cooperation. Since 1978, Korea Eximbank has provided $ 386 million both for trade between Sri Lanka and Korea and for Korean companies’ foreign direct investments in Sri Lanka.

KSP (Knowledge Sharing Program) is a special technical assistance program provided by the Korea Eximbank under the auspices of the Ministry of Strategy and Finance of Korea to share Korea’s development experience and knowledge accumulated over the past decades with partner countries. KSP offers joint consulting programs with multilateral development banks, modularisation projects, and policy consultation tailored to the needs of partner countries encompassing in-depth analysis, policy recommendations, and training opportunities.