Strategy 21 : Micro Enterprise Capacity Building

Overview

This strategy will promote the introduction and utilization of ICT in Micro businesses and SMEs throughout a network of 28 regional towns (majority outside of Colombo). In each of these towns the strategy will be to build a critical mass of ICT users by providing loans to an initial thirty small businesses to invest in ICT.

Purpose?

Increased ICT usage by non-ICT micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) thereby inculcating a culture of ICT usage to improve the productivity of MSMEs. This will open up a new market for ICT Industry.

Beneficiaries?

How?

MSMEs are provided with no-interest, ICTA-underwritten bank loans to buy PCs
Awareness is built of the benefits of ICT for business management
Training and support for using the PCs for business are given on an ongoing basis
The latter two tasks will be carried out by an MSME service institution, selected by RFP