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Shalini
Shalini
May 11 2026
70Sri Lanka’s Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector marked another significant milestone in its global expansion, as five Sri Lankan technology companies successfully participated in a European market exposure programme under the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) - Import Promotion Desk Germany (IPD) project.
Strategic Participation at Hannover Messe
The programme commenced with participation at the globally renowned Hannover Messe, where the Sri Lankan delegation engaged in a series of pre-arranged business-to-business (B2B) meetings with European companies. The event provided a valuable platform to showcase Sri Lanka’s growing ICT capabilities and explore potential partnerships in areas such as digital transformation, software development, and emerging technologies.
Berlin Programme: Deepening Ecosystem Engagement
Following Hannover Messe, the delegation continued to Berlin, participating in a comprehensive programme that included ecosystem tours, keynote sessions, and interactive workshops. A dedicated networking and pitch event enabled Sri Lankan companies to connect with European startups, investors, and industry experts, fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange while gaining deeper insights into the German innovation ecosystem.
Nordic Market Exposure in Stockholm
The programme further extended to Stockholm, offering valuable exposure to the Nordic innovation landscape. Key highlights included participation in the Nordic Growth Summit and a networking session hosted by Impact Hub.
The delegation engaged in strategic meetings at Tech Arena and visited Nordea Bank, gaining first-hand insights into regional business practices, fintech innovation, and scaling opportunities within the European market.
Enabling Future Opportunities for Sri Lanka’s ICT Sector
This initiative significantly enhanced the visibility of Sri Lanka’s ICT sector in Europe while enabling participating companies to build strategic partnerships and gain critical market insights.
Importantly, the programme serves as a gateway for other Sri Lankan ICT companies seeking to enter the German and broader European markets. The knowledge, networks, and exposure gained are expected to create positive spillover effects across the industry, supporting increased exports and international collaboration.
The programme delivered strong commercial and strategic outcomes, generating meaningful market exposure across Germany and the Nordic region. Through engagements at Hannover Messe, Berlin workshops, and key sessions in Stockholm, companies secured a number of high-quality leads and initiated active follow-ups for potential collaborations and partnerships. Participants also gained a deeper understanding of European market dynamics particularly in Germany and Sweden including business culture, buyer expectations and emerging opportunities in AI and enterprise technology.
This marks the second collaboration between EDB and IPD, highlighting the importance of sustained joint initiatives in building long-term business relationships and ensuring continuity. A clear example is the partnership between a Sri Lankan company and a German company: after securing a deal following the first edition, both parties used this second edition to strengthen and expand their cooperation. Although reaching concrete results took more than nine months, the experience demonstrates that continuity and consistent engagement are key to achieving lasting commercial success.
The visit to Nordea Bank further strengthened sector-specific knowledge, especially for companies operating in fintech and enterprise solutions. Overall, the programme enabled participants to validate product-market fit, refine their European market entry strategies and build a strong pipeline for future growth in the region.
The EDB and IPD is continuously supporting Sri Lankan ICT companies in expanding their global footprint through targeted internationalization programmes and strategic market access initiatives under this project to in the year ahead.
Source: Adaderana
