The NOAAs recognise best practice in outsourcing projects, and reward end-users, suppliers, advisors and destinations. The tenth year (2013) awards were presented by TV comedian and host, Ellie Taylor.

 

Information and Technology Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTA) CEO Reshan Dewapura said: "This is yet another fruition of implementing the 'Mahinda Chinthana Vision for the Future' policy statement of the Government. This coincides with yet another concomitant achievement in the industry, that of IT/BPO industry reaching the fifth position as the best foreign exchange earner for Sri Lanka. IT/BPO industry is also a great sector for generating employment". Responding to media as to what plans were underway for the development of the industry and ICT for development in general the ICTA CEO said: We have just had a outstandingly successful global ICT event, the World Summit Award 2013 Winners' Global Congress. Inaugurating the event President Mahinda Rajapaksa announced the new ICT strategy for the next five to six years. Called 'Smart Sri Lanka' the new strategy will turn a new leaf in ICT for development.

 

It will include development under sub-heads highlighted as 'Smart Jobs' and 'Smart Society'.

 

Among all the other achievements of IT/BPO industry, Sri Lanka won the 'Off-shoring Destination of the Year' at The National Outsourcing Association Awards (NOAAs). The NOAAs is the only award ceremony dedicated to the UK outsourcing. Other shortlisted destinations for this award included Serbia and Fiji.

 

The judges compared the how well each destination has performed in the two key criteria namely strategy (40%) and results (60%). Strategy of the destination which was evaluated with 40% weight included sub criteria such as overall strategic vision of the destination, approach to differentiation, target markets and approaches to them, focus on skills development and talent management, approach to building an innovative continual collaborative environment. Sri Lanka's IT/BPO industry has set its vision to achieve US$ five billion in exports by 2022 while generating 200,000 jobs and creating 1000 startups in this process. 

 

(Source: DAily News)