EDB launches ICT Export Value Survey for third time
Friday, 20 March 2015 00:00
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The Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB), for the third time, has embarked on the survey of the IT/BPM export industry to capture the ICT export values for the years 2013 and 2014. The survey is expected to demonstrate the progress made by the industry and to highlight its growing significance as a top export revenue generator for Sri Lanka.
The survey will be conducted in partnership with PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC).
During the last five years, Sri Lanka’s global brand position improved significantly. AT Kearney ranked Sri Lanka among the top 25 destinations in their global ranking in the last three consecutive rankings. Gartner ranked Sri Lanka among its top 30 global locations. IBM, Tholons and several others ranked Sri Lanka at the top of their respective leader boards. To receive the ‘Outsourcing Destination of the Year’ award from the National Outsourcing Association (NOA), UK twice in a row, was a true validation of the tremendous progress that Sri Lanka has achieved.
“There is a need to continuously measure the growth of the IT/BPM industry and its contribution to the country’s economy as the Government has recognised the industry to be one of the key players in the Sri Lanka economy,” said EDB Chairman and Chief Executive Bandula Egodage.
Sri Lanka’s competitive advantage as a destination for doing business in the IT/BPM sector is built around agility, cost, a niche talent base, ethics, cultural adaptability and superior quality of life. On the BPM front, it continues to build on finance and accounting as its primary global niche. On the IT front, the competitive position on product engineering is now becoming a formidable advantage with many local companies having ownership of reputable software products.
EDB ICT Advisory Committee Chairman and SLASSCOM Vice Chairman Mano Sekaram said, “The ICT/BPM sector in Sri Lanka has taken less than 15 years to become the country’s fifth largest exporter. We have an ambitious vision for 2022 – to be a $ 5 billion industry that would create 200,000 jobs. This survey would help us to understand where we stand.”
This survey will specifically focus on the export value of the ICT sector for the years 2013 and 2014. While focusing on the capacity available for the industry, the survey also concentrates on the existing global markets. “The Sri Lanka Export Development Board expects that this survey will be instrumental in facilitating the industry to reach its highest potential. The results of the survey will be useful to assess the current status of the industry in relation to its competitors as well as be the basis for Government policy decisions in the future regarding the ICT industry,” stated Egodage.
The online survey will be conducted by PwC Sri Lanka and commence in March 2015. PwC Director Nishan Mendis stated, “We are delighted to be part of this initiative for the third consecutive time. We have been working very closely with the ICT industry of Sri Lanka for almost a decade and we are privileged to have supported the industry in many such initiatives.” Mendis further stated that unlike the last two surveys where face to face interviews were carried out, this survey would be conducted through an online questionnaire.
“When such ICT initiatives are carried out by the EDB, we are supported by the IT/BPM industry, the Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka, Board of Investment, SLASSCOM, FITIS, Ministry of Industry and Commerce, Institute of Chartered Accountants, Faculty of IT – University of Moratuwa and School of Computing – University of Colombo. We encourage the IT/BPM industry to participate and provide their fullest support and cooperation for this survey,” said Egodage.
