The Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB), in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Consulate General in Dubai, UAE, organized Sri Lanka's participation at GITEX Expand North Star from October 13 to 19, 2024. This initiative featured a range of activities, including business meetings, networking sessions, and field visits across Dubai, aimed at showcasing Sri Lankan innovation and fostering international partnerships. Ten ICT SMEs/startups exhibited and participated in this program, representing the ICT industry of Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka's IT sector made a remarkable impact at GITEX Expand North Star 2024, held from October 13 to 19 in Dubai. The event brought together global innovators, tech entrepreneurs, and industry leaders, offering the Sri Lankan delegation a platform to explore collaborative opportunities and present the nation's growing ICT capabilities.

North Star Trade Fair

GITEX Expand North Star, a key part of GITEX Global, stands as the world’s largest investor program. It offered a unique platform for investors from around the world to broaden their networks, explore cutting-edge technology trends, and engage with a diverse array of high-quality startups. The program also provided matchmaking opportunities to connect SMEs and startups with potential partners and investors.

From 13th to 16th October, Sri Lankan representatives actively engaged with exhibitors from diverse sectors at the North Star Trade Fair. The delegation explored business expansion opportunities, fostered meaningful connections, and discussed potential collaborations with global tech pioneers.

EDB was able to secure an opportunity from the GITEX fair organizers for a Sri Lankan IT expert to participate in a panel discussion on the Spotlight Stage at GITEX North Star. Mr. Jeevan Gnanam, Group Managing Director of Veracity Digital (Pvt) Ltd, represented the Sri Lankan IT industry in the panel discussion, focusing on the ecosystem of investing in Asia. Other speakers were Ms. Tuyet Vu, Advisor at Vertex Ventures SEA & India, Vietnam, and Mr. Hao Tang, Managing Director of the IASP China Office and Senior Assistant Director at IASP, TusPark (Jiangsu) Innovation Research Institute, China. The panel discussion was moderated by Ms. Martina Fuchs, a business journalist at Xinhua News Agency, China/Switzerland.

Pakistan Night: A Highlight for the Delegation

The Sri Lankan delegation was invited to the exclusive 'Pakistan Night' at GITEX through the Consulate General of Sri Lanka. The event, hosted by the Pakistan Ambassador to the UAE, included participation from Pakistan's Minister of State for IT & Telecom. It provided a unique opportunity for Sri Lankan business leaders to engage with their Pakistani counterparts, discuss regional cooperation, and forge new alliances in the tech sector.

Visit to Dubai Silicon Oasis (DSO)

Sri Lanka Consul General Hon. Alexi Gunasekera, along with a delegation of Sri Lankan IT companies at Expand North Star 2024, had a productive meeting with Mr. Ghanim Al Falasi, Senior Vice President of Entrepreneurship & Technology Ecosystem at Dubai Silicon Oasis (DSO), and Hans Christopher, CEO of Dtec, on 16th October 2024 at the DSO headquarters.

The meeting focused on exploring collaboration opportunities in technology and innovation. The Consul General thanked the hosts for their warm welcome and emphasized the importance of DSO as a key hub for technological advancement and entrepreneurship in the region.

Tech Business Networking Event

On 16th October, Sri Lankan companies took part in the Tech Business Networking Event. This gathering facilitated focused discussions with professionals from the global technology sector, fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing that could benefit the growth of Sri Lanka's IT landscape.

GITEX Main Event Visit

Sri Lankan companies visited the main exhibition at GITEX Global after completing the North Star exhibition, where participants explored the latest industry trends and technological innovations. This provided an opportunity to connect with the potential global IT community, gain insights into industry trends and new technologies, and learn from experts through speeches and workshops during their visit.

Field Visit and Networking Sessions

1. Field Visit to IntelaK Hub

The Sri Lankan delegation visited IntelaK Hub at One Central. This visit provided valuable insights into Dubai’s SME ecosystem and innovation initiatives, helping the delegation better understand the local entrepreneurial landscape.

      2. Networking Event at Novotel Deira Creekside Hotel

A networking event was organized by the Consulate General Office and the Sri Lanka Export Development Board, with assistance from the Sri Lanka ICT Association of UAE and the Sri Lanka Business Council. Sri Lankan companies presented their products and services during the session held at the Novotel Deira Creekside Hotel, which facilitated discussions and connections between Sri Lankan entrepreneurs and key players in the Middle East's tech sector, fostering opportunities for collaboration and growth. More than 120 visitors, representing several countries, participated in the networking session.

Field Visit to Mohammed Bin Rashid Innovation Fund (MBRIF)

The program concluded with a field visit to the Mohammed Bin Rashid Innovation Fund, which provided valuable insights into Dubai's innovation and funding ecosystem. This experience offered inspiration for Sri Lanka’s entrepreneurs to leverage global resources for growth and expansion.

Sri Lanka's participation at GITEX Expand North Star 2024 reflects the nation’s commitment to advancing its IT sector and fostering international collaborations. The experiences and connections gained during this event are expected to further enhance the global presence of Sri Lankan IT companies at one of the most attractive and popular ICT trade events in the world.

The main expectation from this programme is to foster the creation of significant business linkages and joint venture partnerships, and also increased collaboration between Sri Lankan ICT/BPM companies and key stakeholders in the MENA region. Through this initiative, it also aimed to enhance market penetration, promote technology exchange, and substantially boost the export of ICT and BPM services to the MENA market. The participating companies are expected to leverage this opportunity to showcase their capabilities, build long-term relationships, and tap into new business opportunities that will contribute to the overall growth of Sri Lanka's export economy.

The EDB is assisting the Sri Lankan ICT industry in achieving the overall national IT/BPM goals of reaching $ 5 billion in export revenue by 2030. Therefore, the EDB is planning to organise similar initiatives in other countries to explore business opportunities for the Sri Lankan ICT/BPM sector in the future.