Local ICT/BPM delegation at Japan IT Week expects to generate US$1 mn by end-2019
With the government’s continuous efforts to drive its economy through digital adaptation and innovation, a Sri Lankan ICT/BPM delegation, organised by the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) successfully concluded the participation at Japan IT Week 2019, which was held from May 8 to 10, 2019.
The participation at Japan IT Week 2019 saw a roaring success by generating an average of 65-70 initial business contacts, out of which 30-35 are potential conversions. In addition, a few companies are expecting to sign joint ventures with leading Japanese companies in the local ICT/BPM sector in the near future.
As a result, it is expected to generate at least US$1 million worth of business by end of 2019.
This was the fifth consecutive time that the EDB organised the country pavilion at the Japan IT Week, and over 25 companies have been able to embark into the Japanese market through these missions.
EDB supports local companies to mediate further discussions with the potential leads, ensuring that sustainability and successful business and corporation is achieved as a result of the mission.
“We at hsenid are working with a few Japanese clients which include big IT companies and we are expecting to expand our business to Japan with hopes to establish our own company there soon, which will benefit both Sri Lanka and Japan,” said hsenid (Pvt.) Ltd Chairman Dinesh Saparamadu.
“We were able to enter the Japanese IT market mainly because the EDB took leadership to support local IT companies through government funding. We are very much thankful for the continuous support provided,” Saparamadu added.
Japan IT Week is one of the world’s leading ICT/BPM focused exhibitions and provides a myriad of opportunities for professionals, vendors, service providers and customers to meet exhibitors from across the world and develop profitable business relationships.
Japan has a strong track record of innovation, making Japan IT Week the ideal platform for Sri Lankan companies to showcase their offerings, establish business relations and expand their footprint across the continent.
This year the EDB introduced Creative Hub (Pvt.) Ltd, Easybooking (Pvt.) Ltd, Outsmart Hub (Pvt.) Ltd, Somro BPO (Pvt.) Ltd and Genesiis (Pvt.) Ltd to the Japanese market for the first time, while Beyondm (Pvt.) Ltd, Metatechno Lanka (Pvt.) Ltd, Global Tutor (Pvt.) Ltd and Sanota (Pvt.) Ltd joined the delegation to strengthen existing business ventures and expand their footprint in Japan.
The companies were able to enhance their knowledge on the artificial intelligence, robotic automation, IOT and high demanding technologies in Japan.
Along with the exhibition, Japan Information Technology Service Industry Association (JISA) had organised a country seminar with the participation of 20 Japanese companies.
The opening remarks were made by JISA International Affairs Vice Chairman and EDB Assistant Director Ravindi Ranaraja.
The Sri Lankan delegation successfully delivered an investment pitch to the Japanese companies, highlighting the key service offerings to the Japanese industry.
Furthermore, the EDB and the Japanese Embassy in Sri Lanka organised an interactive session with Sri Lankan Diaspora in Japan, to create awareness on the Sri Lankan ICT/BPM sector and to highlight the initiative taken by the Sri Lankan Government to develop the sector.
At this occasion, Digital Infrastructure and Information Technology Minister Ajith P. Perera delivered a brief opening remark on the niche skills available in Sri Lanka to cater to the Japanese labour shortage.
Also, Ravindi Ranaraja, Assistant Director who led the Sri Lankan delegation from EDB invited the Sri Lankan diaspora to become the brand ambassadors of the Sri Lanka ICT/BPM brand ‘Island of Ingenuity - Sri Lanka Knowledge Solutions’.
Further, it was been emphasised how the voice of the diaspora community can be leveraged to promote the IOI brand through their networks.
Meanwhile, JICA ICT Senior Advisor did an informative session on ‘What is the ideal platform to boost ICT business between two countries?’, and during his presentation it was revealed that the strong commitment of both countries was crucial, not only till the funds get transferred, but also till reaching the expected results from the project.
As part of the National Export Strategy’s (NES) growth initiatives, the Sri Lankan government, along with the EDB will continue to strengthen Sri Lanka’s ICT/ BPM sector through the Island of Ingenuity (IOI) brand.
As a unified platform for the ICT/BPM sector, the Island of Ingenuity aims to showcase Sri Lanka’s innovative prowess in the global arena to exponentially grow industry revenues to US$5 billion by 2022 from its current US$1.2 billion, while creating 200,000 new jobs and 1,000 startups.
The EDB had extended the opportunity for two startup companies to explore Japanese market and get market intelligence.
“It was a great opportunity, and through this we were able to find some positive leads and even did some brief demos for them during the expo. I believe that there is high potential to convert them to real businesses. Also, the preparatory session conducted by the EDB helped us a lot to prepare ourselves on how to pitch ourselves successfully in the Japanese market,” said Sanota (Pvt.) Ltd Managing Director Sahan Chathuranga.
Metatechno Lanka Company (Pvt.) Ltd General Manager said: “We’ve been in the software outsourcing business with Japan for the past 18 years. This year we participated in the Japan IT Week exhibition held in Tokyo, under the country pavilion organised by the EDB of Sri Lanka. We had a great opportunity to showcase our products to Japanese companies and strengthen our footprint in Japan. We were also able to start discussions with leading Japanese companies who visited the pavilion and they are willing to enter into partnerships with us.”
Creative Hub Solutions (Pvt.) Ltd, a startup company which joined the delegation for the first time was able to gain a tremendous market knowledge of Japan.
“This was the first time we took part in an international exhibition. Through the help and guidance of the EDB, we were able to establish a network there and now we are looking at establishing a Creative Hub branch in Japan,” remarked Creative Hub Solutions (Pvt.) Ltd Managing Director Irosha De Silva.
Sri Lanka’s IT industry has emerged and become globally competitive due to the unique talents of the workforce, the focus on high quality and reliability, and above all, ingenuity and creativity.
Local ICT/BPM Solution providers are now known to the Japanese IT sector, with many companies providing software, mobile and big data solutions for leading Japanese companies.
The EDB is prominently giving leadership to the Sri Lankan ICT industry in achieving the overall national IT/BPM goals of reaching US$5 billion in export revenue and a workforce of 200,000 by 2022. Therefore, the EDB is planning to organise similar programmes in other countries to explore business opportunities for the Sri Lankan ICT/BPM sector in the future.