Sri Lanka, Bangladesh seek stronger ties in IT, BPO sectors

Sri Lanka and Bangladesh are exploring avenues to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the fields of Information Technology (ICT) and Business Process Outsourcing (BPO), as both nations aim to boost service sector exports and industry collaboration, said a press release.

Sri Lankan High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dharmapala Weerakkody, accompanied by Minister Counsellor (Commerce) Srimali Jayarathne, held a meeting with Tanvir Ibrahim, President of the Bangladesh Association of Contact Center and Outsourcing (BACCO), and its Executive Committee members on 14 May at BACCO’s office in Dhaka.

The meeting focused on enhancing collaboration between the two countries' IT and BPO sectors.

The Sri Lankan envoy highlighted the strategic importance of the IT sector to his country’s economy, pointing out government-led incentives and investment opportunities.

He also stressed the potential for cooperation in business process outsourcing, knowledge exchange, skills development, and joint ventures.

High Commissioner Weerakkody invited Bangladeshi stakeholders to participate in “Disrupt Asia 2025,” Sri Lanka’s premier ICT event, scheduled to be held in Colombo in September.

In response, BACCO President Tanvir Ibrahim outlined Bangladesh’s growing capabilities in IT and BPO, expressing strong interest in forging ties with Sri Lankan counterparts.

He welcomed Sri Lankan companies to engage with Bangladeshi firms and extended an invitation for Sri Lanka to join the upcoming BACCO Summit 2025, to be held in late June.

Both sides agreed to organise a virtual interactive session between BACCO, the Sri Lanka Association for Software and Services Companies (SLASSCOM), and the Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA) of Sri Lanka to further discuss collaborative initiatives.