On changing entertainment consumption patterns amid the Covid-19 pandemic As social-distancing measures lead to increased demand for home entertainment, what strategies can be employed to increase penetration in a sustainable manner? MARC BARNETT: This situation is bigger than our internal business metrics, and I think we have a responsibility and an opportunity to help people through a difficult…
On how the city-state is positioning itself as a door to South-east Asia and a hub for cross-border collaboration What advantages does Singapore offer tech companies seeking a springboard into ASEAN? PETER ONG: Innovation in South-east Asia is at an inflection point. The average age of the region’s 640m-strong population is 30, and a growing level of consumption power characterises…
Sri Lanka’s promising progress with regard to free trade agreements, alongside finance reforms and ambitious growth strategies for manufacturing and ICT, look set to encourage increased foreign direct investment in 2019 – with 2018 having seen the highest levels on record. This should help offset the effects of political and economic volatility, as well at the increasing trade deficit that res
Following years of steady growth, the ICT sector is embracing a period of fast-paced innovation. While the telecoms and business process outsourcing (BPO) industries in Sri Lanka are reaching maturity, efforts are being focused on developing more innovative and highend products. The sector’s organic growth is benefitting other industries, such as agriculture, manufacturing and tourism, and…
Interview:Lakmini Wijesundera How do you assess the potential of the ICT/ business process management (BPM) sector to make a greater contribution to the national economy? LAKMINI WIJESUNDERA: Sri Lanka’s ICT/BPM sector has much to contribute to the national economy. Several initiatives have been launched in recent years to give support to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and large…
Following years of steady growth, the ICT sector is embracing a period of fast-paced innovation. While the telecoms and business process outsourcing industries in Sri Lanka are reaching maturity, efforts are being focused on developing more innovative and high-end products. The sector’s organic growth is benefitting other industries, such as agriculture, manufacturing and tourism, and supporting…
Following a decade of substantial growth, the ICT sector in Sri Lanka is ready to participate in the fourth industrial revolution and compete in the digital age. In 2018 it launched a new brand – Island of Ingenuity (IoI) – to promote knowledge services. Created by the Sri Lanka Association for Software and Service Companies (SLASSCOM) and endorsed by the Export Development Board, the Information…
Policymakers are in the process of developing Sri Lanka’s first Digital Economy Strategy in an effort to harness technological innovation to boost productivity across sectors and promote inclusive growth. Development of the strategy, which began in 2017, is being spearheaded by the Ministry of Digital Infrastructure and Information Technology in partnership with consultancy firm McKinsey…
While efforts are under way to transform the environment, the start-up ecosystem in Sri Lanka remains underdeveloped. At both a government level and in the private sector, resources are being committed to encourage and support entrepreneurship. These initiatives appear to be paying off, with a significant uptick in activity occurring in recent quarters and a critical mass having been achieved. “There…
Sri Lanka was the first country in South Asia to roll out a nationwide 4G network, its mobile market is highly competitive and it is home to a number of major tech companies. Connectivity is improving quickly, the environment for innovation is undergoing a positive transformation and the government is starting to make significant investments in e-governance (see analysis). While Sri Lanka may…
