Sri Lanka’s National Digital Economic Strategy 2030 takes shape
Daily FT: In a bid to propel Sri Lanka towards a digitally empowered future, the Cabinet of Ministers sanctioned the implementation of the National Economic Digital Strategy 2030.
“The strategy aims to unlock new avenues for economic diversification, job creation and inclusive development,” Cabinet Co-Spokesman and Minister Bandula Gunawardena said at the post-Cabinet meeting media briefing recently.
Recognising the imperative of a comprehensive digital economic strategy to steer the country towards higher revenue generation by 2048, the Government has underscored the need to harness the transformative potential of digital technologies.
The strategy is put together under the guidance of eminent experts in the field, professional institutions, and vocational boards. It outlines a roadmap aimed at leveraging digital technologies to drive economic growth, foster innovation, and enhance the country’s global competitiveness in the digital era.
Key components of the National Digital Economic Strategy include: digital infrastructure development, digital skills development, e-government initiatives, digital innovation and entrepreneurship, cyber security and data protection and digital inclusion and accessibility.
The proposal was submitted by President Ranil Wickremesinghe in his capacity as the technology minister and it was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
OSL take:
With Sri Lanka on the path to becoming a regional hub, the country is focused on transforming the economy into an e-economy. The Sri Lankan government has also commenced many programmes to digitalise the country’s state sector institutions while the private sector is focused on being on par with the fast evolving developments in the digital spheres in the international arena. All these have resulted in the expansion in the ICT and digital infrastructure development sectors creating new business/investment opportunities in these sectors. In this backdrop, the formulation of a National Digital Policy by Sri Lanka would provide more clarity on the country’s vision and mission with regard to ICT and digital infrastructure development as well as the possible business/investment opportunities. The success and growth recorded by local businesses engaged in the ICT and digital infrastructure development sectors is a clear indication of the expanding business/investment opportunities in these sectors. Also, it is important to note that the existing opportunities in the ICT and digital infrastructure development sectors in Sri Lanka would see a further growth with the overall expansion in the country’s economic activities.
| Article Code : | VBS/AT/20240404/Z_7 |