The Export Development Board (EDB) has solidified its commitment to advancing the ICT BPM sector by establishing a strategic partnership with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
This collaboration is set to play a pivotal role in expanding and cultivating the Japanese market for Sri Lanka’s burgeoning ICT BPM industry aiming to create a network that goes beyond immediate economic benefits, promoting a culture of collaboration and knowledge exchange that transcends borders.
In 2020, EDB initiated a initiative in collaboration with JICA to enhance technological collaborations. After a comprehensive survey on Sri Lankan tech industry, a compelling proposal was submitted in 2022.
Marking a remarkable journey between two tech industries in both countries, the approval was received fromJICA, with the agreement to extend the Japanese technical assistance for Sri Lankan tech companies by introducing Sri Lankan ICT/BPM companies to the Japanese market. The project aims to assist approximately 30 SME ICT/BPM companies and tech startups in two cohorts over a two-year period starting in 2024 by providing market intelligence, business coaching and matchmaking support.
To provide technical consultancy, JICA assigned Yoichi KOGURE, Senior Consultant in the Consulting Division at Japan Development Service Co., Ltd. (JDS), and Malith Gunasekara, Technology Advisor specializing in Digital Financial Services, FinTech, and e-Health, to the project. The technical consultancy will be multifaceted, by close collaboration with Sri Lankan tech companies to understand their unique capabilities, challenges and aspirations. At the same time the consultancy team will identify the potential areas of synergy and establish connections between two tech ecosystems.
A kickoff meeting was held with Dr. Kingsley Bernard, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of the Sri Lanka Export Development Board, Ms. Indumini Kodikara, Director, Export Services, Ms. Vajira Kularathna and Dinesh Attanayake of the EDB IT team. From the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Sri Lanka office Ms. Miyake Yukako, Project Formulation Advisor (Social Sector and ICT Sector), and Ms. Eranga Rajapaksha, Associate Officer, Development Cooperation Division participated at this meeting.
Sri Lanka’s Export Development Board has worked tirelessly to establish the country’s ITBPM sector in the competitive Japanese market. The journey began in 2014 with the creation of an ICT sector interest group focused on Japan. Through key events and meetings with influential Japanese institutions, Sri Lanka gained media exposure and recognition, leading to collaborations in software development ventures.
Building on this success, EDB has introduced over 40 Sri Lankan ICT companies to the Japanese market through trade events like Japan IT Week from 2015 to 2019 and CEATEC in 2015. Recognising the growing demand, EDB expanded its efforts to Central and Western Japan in 2023 with Osaka IT Week, resulting in successful business leads. The collaboration between Sri Lanka and Japan has become a success story, serving as inspiration for other nations.
