Sri Lanka wants to join India's IT boom

By Staff
|
Google Oneindia News

Bangalore, Oct 29 (UNI) Sri Lanka, a free trade partner with India, wants to join its big neighbour in the IT boom that has made it a major producer and exporter of IT products, Sri Lanka Minister for Science and Technology Tissa Vitharana said today.

Interacting with the media during his visit to IT mega exposition 'Bangalore IT.in' here he said, ''with the signing of the Free Trade Agreement and close ties the two countries have, there is no need to treat Sri Lanka as different country. It is part of the Indian development process. We want to cash in on the IT boom that India has witnessed. The government had now decided to woo IT companies in a big way to put to use the talented Sri Lankans who otherwise are leaving the country in search of greener pastures.'' The minister, who is also the Chairman of the All Party Representative Committee setup by the government to chalk out norms for a negotiated settlement to the ethnic strife and a broad based new constitution, is heading an all-party delegation to study the Panchayat Raj system that the island nation is planning to implement in it own country.

He said Sri Lanka, with 94 per cent literacy rate, had abundant talent and skillful knowledge force had a huge talent pool, which was ideal for the BPO companies to set up shops.

''We want India to help us in bringing BPO and other IT and high tech companies to our nation. This will help us reap a duel benefit -- bring in prosperity and benefit the educated youth. IT can help our country to reduce the poverty gap. Young people from poor section of the society are highly skillful but do not have enough opportunities at present. IT can complement our income which is mainly from tourism and exports at present,'' he said.

Mr Vitharana said apart from IT sector, Sri Lanka want to promote high-tech industries like nano technology and semiconductor design industries.

''Though ours is a small economy it is very flexible. We offer good atmosphere and incentives like tax holiday, interest subsidy, freedom to repatriate profits and access to land and quality power,'' he added.

UNI RS MSP HVB SRS BD1723

For Daily Alerts
Get Instant News Updates
Enable
x
Notification Settings X
Time Settings
Done
Clear Notification X
Do you want to clear all the notifications from your inbox?
Settings X
X