The Sri Lanka Association of Software and Services Companies (SLASSCOM) has been a trailblazer for the IT/BPM sector in Sri Lanka by continuously supporting the growth of the industry to reach global heights, with proactive strategies launched for local businesses to establish lucrative connections in the international market.

The Global Referral Programme entails in SLASSCOM acting as the facilitator and adding value by providing information to referrers, hosting networking opportunities and tracking and monitoring progress. Companies in the programme are bound by a common memorandum of understanding (MoU) to ensure that the interests of all parties are protected and that the process is convenient. 

The Global Referral Programme covers businesses under six verticals: software products/solutions, software development services, BPO, KPO, digital agencies and AI/ML service providers. 

Continuing this trend of linking Sri Lankan businesses to collaborate with global business opportunities, SLASSCOM recently hosted a webinar to introduce its Global Referral Programme to the UAE market.  
The webinar was hosted by the SLASSCOM Global Trade and Investment Forum. Global Referral Programme Workstream Head Mudith Uswatta provided participants with an introduction to the SLASSCOM Global Referral Programme and cited some case studies on how the Global Referral Programme has been driving growth in the Sri Lankan IT/BPM space.

He further explained, “A new generation of Sri Lankan companies is now poised for global growth but need assistance to increase visibility for their brands, get introductions to potential clients and be exposed to opportunities to prove their capabilities and develop long-term relationships in their target markets. We see the Global Referral Programme as the way forward to make this happen.”

Sri Lankan IT Professionals Association UAE President Chamil Mendis, with whom the chamber organised the webinar, stated, “We are very happy to partner with SLASSCOM, one of the most prestigious and futuristic associations in the IT landscape in Sri Lanka, in this endeavour. It is our pleasure to connect lucrative opportunities in the UAE with SLASSCOM members and to work together and harvest potential collaborations. Having commenced operations early this year, the Sri Lankan IT Professionals Association in the UAE is keen to improve Sri Lankan IT professionals’ presence in the UAE and help Sri Lankan IT companies find business opportunities in the UAE.”   

“In order to achieve our vision of generating US $ 5 billion in revenue by 2025, it is imperative that we support the IT/BPM industry in the country to expand its presence in global markets. Our Global Referral Programme, which has been already established in several countries, is the ideal platform to build relationships between Sri Lankan professional expats and Sri Lankan companies,” stated SLASSCOM Chairperson Sandra De Zoysa.

Participated by a large plethora of professionals from a range of industry segments in the UAE, the event had a highly interactive Q&A session, followed by a virtual networking, where participants openly discussed collaborations and initiated pathways towards mutually beneficial business engagements.