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ICTA
to launch new grant scheme to build ICT capacity
A comprehensive update on the developments in the ICT Capacity
Building Programme (ICBP), a programme implemented by the
Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka
(ICTA) which is a US$5.2 million initiative to provide a short-term
boost to private sector ICT firms will be released in next
month.
The ICTA together with the ICT Industry is making strides
towards increasing the ICT workforce that will feed this fast
growing industry in the form of a ‘National ICT Capacity
Building Strategy’. Under the ICTA’s Industry Capacity
Building programme many initiatives have been taken to increase
HR capacity and quality of the existing ICT Industry that
would assist Sri Lankan Companies to compete effectively in
the International ICT environment.
“Assistance has been given to over 60 companies to get
internationally accredited certifications which will enhance
the company quality and recognition” says Reshan Dewapura,
COO/Director of ICT Agency of Sri Lanka, functioning under
the Presidential Secretariat.
“Scholarships are awarded to aspiring ICT professionals
to follow recognized foreign and local courses in order to
gain more knowledge and experience,” he added.
The ‘Train the Trainer’ programme, incentives for
in house training for ICT companies and the ‘Training
Voucher’ scheme where an incentive is given to individuals
who at present are not in the ICT Industry in order to gain
a basic ICT education are also carried out under ICBP. Seminars
and Workshops are also organised in regular intervals in response
to the Industry requirement.
Encouraging innovation and entrepreneurship in the ICT Industry,
part subsides are given for innovative ICT projects including
projects related to improving processors related to Sri Lanka’s
thrust industries such as the tourism industry, apparel industry
and the gem & jewelry industry. A Special programme to
assist computerisation of accounting processors for the small
and medium enterprises is also underway with the collaboration
of reputed banks in the country. Business matchmaking for
Sri Lankan companies who want to enter the outsource market
or widen their existing foreign client base in order to assist
them to sell their products and services to the UK is another
unique project carried under ICBP.
‘The ICTA Private Sector Forum is a platform which has
been used effectively in the past by Industry and other stakeholders
to exchange views on the ICT Agency driven programmes. The
demand for the event has been growing steadily and we saw
more than 300 Industry Leaders participating at the last event’
Fayaz Hudah, Programme Manager, ICTA said.
The 12th Information Communication Technology Agency Private
Sector Forum will be held on August 5, 2008 in Colombo.
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