Kandy IT/BPM Week 2016

The IT Industry is advocating the creation of regional cities and bring about inclusive growth in the country. The Kandy IT/BPM Week is one such initiative, which will be held from June 10 to 12, organised by SLASSCOM, supported by the Export Development Board (EDB), Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTA) and the Ministry of Education (MOE).

The program will showcase ICT, entrepreneurial and Business Process Management (BPM) related knowledge sharing and awareness creation through thought leadershipsessions and workshops.

This project will consist of five programs each focusing on target audiences varying from school children, exporters, entrepreneurs and university students. The Kandy IT/BPM Week will comprise the Future Careers Program June 10 at Ranabima Royal College, where the aim is to educate school children about the global and local IT/BPM industry, creating awareness on the wide range of job opportunities available within the sector.

An Export forum and Entrepreneurship workshop will be held on June 11 at Queen's Hotel Kandy, targeting those who already run small and medium scale enterprises, aspiring entrepreneurs and others who are looking to start businesses.

A BPM conference will be held at the University of Peradeniya for university undergraduates on the same day where presentations and case studies on career potential and developments in the BPM sector will be shared.

An IT Conference will be held on June 12 at the Peradeniya University where Sri Lanka's ICT industry thought leaders will address undergraduates from the University of Peradeniya and other State universities in Sri Lanka, providing them with a wealth of knowledge about the latest developments in the global and local IT/BPM Industry through practical insights.

The IT/BPM industry can operate from any location, given that a conducive environment and sound infrastructure are in place. Eighty percent of the nation's current workforce comes from regional areas and this is where our greatest untapped human resources lie as well.

Commenting on the Kandy IT/BPM Week, SLASSCOM Chairman Mano Sekaram said, "The creation of 'second tier cities' would empower regional economy and see a paradigm shift from being Colombo-centric to being Regional -centric. Regional folk will reap benefits while living in their own households, to enjoy a far better standard of life."

Jaffna, Kandy and Galle have the potential to be developed as second tier cities so far, given the infrastructure already in place, current and planned development, their capacity to generate skilled workforces (through schools and universities).