The national workshop titled “The Road to US$5 Billion” took place on July 31 at Cinnamon Life in Colombo. Its primary goal was to evaluate, confirm, and foster consensus among stakeholders regarding the strategic plan aimed at propelling the growth of Sri Lanka’s digital sector and boosting digital exports to US$5 billion by the year 2030.
This event was coordinated by the Ministry of Digital Economy and GovTech Sri Lanka, with support from the World Bank Group, and attracted a diverse group of key players from the country’s digital industry.
The opening session featured remarks from Deputy Minister of Digital Economy Eranga Weeraratne, Dr. Hans Wijayasuriya, the Chairman of GovTech Sri Lanka and Chief Presidential Advisor on the Digital Economy, and Victor Antonypillai, Principal Country Officer at the International Finance Corporation, part of the World Bank Group.
Attendees included Deputy Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Chathuranga Abeysinghe, Secretary to the Prime Minister Pradeep Saputhanthri, and Waruna Sri Dhanapala, Secretary of the Ministry of Digital Economy, along with numerous representatives from both public and private sectors.
During the workshop, participants were presented with the Sri Lanka Information Technology Industry Assessment Report and the proposed Strategic Roadmap, developed by local and international consultants from KPMG with the assistance of the World Bank Group.
These documents had previously undergone extensive review and refinement by the Ministry of Digital Economy, GovTech Sri Lanka, and the Industry Development Committee. A crucial aim of the workshop was to collect comprehensive feedback from the industry on the proposed strategic plan.
Several thematic breakout sessions were organized, concentrating on vital topics such as:
- Development of human capital and future-oriented digital skills,
- Innovation and empowering independent professionals,
- Access to global markets and growth in exports,
- Policies, investments, and infrastructure necessary for sustainable industry advancement.
In addition to evaluating the findings and suggestions outlined in the report, participants engaged in discussions about existing challenges, proposed new initiatives, priorities for implementation, institutional roles, performance metrics, and the contributions each stakeholder could make to fulfill the roadmap’s goals.
Particular emphasis was placed on enhancing Sri Lanka’s digital industry competitiveness on the global front, understanding the impact of artificial intelligence on business models and employment roles, promoting high-value digital exports that leverage digital products and intellectual property, and identifying the necessary steps to scale Sri Lankan innovations internationally.
The strategic roadmap is intended to serve as a fact-based and actionable guide for improving the international competitiveness of Sri Lanka’s digital sector, generating quality job opportunities and entrepreneurship, expanding the global presence of locally created digital products and services, and establishing Sri Lanka as a prominent digital economy in the region.
The roadmap will undergo further refinement by integrating the feedback and suggestions provided by industry experts and other stakeholders during the workshop. The finalized document is anticipated to include clearly defined priority actions, responsible entities, implementation timelines, and quantifiable performance indicators as part of a thorough and practical action plan.
Participants at the national workshop included leading firms in the information technology and digital services fields, industry and professional associations, innovation-driven entrepreneurs, startups, investors, independent professionals, academic institutions, government bodies, Sri Lankans living abroad, and international development organizations.
Financial Chronicle Biz English | Sri Lanka Business News.
