Local IT/BPM sector growth ‘Colombo-centric’ – top industry CEO
View(s):Growth in the IT and Business Process Management (IT/BPM) sector in Sri Lanka is currently “Colombo-centric” and it needs to extend beyond the country’s business capital, according to Mano Sekaram, Chief Executive of 99X Technology. Also the Vice Chairma of private sector IT body SLASSCOM, he further commented that the “fastest way of doing this is through the spread of ICT in rural areas, through the creation of regional cities”.
Adding to this, he revealed that a “readiness assessment of locations has shown that Jaffna, Kandy and Hambantota have potential to be developed as second tier cities in Sri Lanka so far, given the infrastructure already in place, connectivity, current and planned development, their capacity to generate skilled workforces”.
Elaborating even more, he noted that the IT/BPM sector is “one that can operate from any location, given that an enabling business environment and sound infrastructure are in place. Our greatest untapped human resources rest in the regional areas which is where 80 per cent of our current workforce comes from”.
Further, he also stated that, “given Sri Lanka’s development drive, Colombo, which is already home to hundreds of IT/BPM firms, will only get more congested. Increased expenses would mean higher costs of operation for companies”.
At the same time, he signalled the need to “bring about inclusive growth that will touch every segment of society”. A move which he advocates to “take ICT to all parts of the country in order to bring about national connectivity”. (JH)