The United States for International Development’s (USAID) CATALYZE Sri Lanka Private Sector Development (PSD) Activity, implemented by Palladium, recently signed a Delivery Order Contract with Centrics Business Solutions (Pvt) Limited to expand technological support to micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in Sri Lanka.
The backbone of Sri Lanka’s economy is its MSMEs. This sector is one of the nation’s main drivers of growth and development, accounting for 90% of all businesses in the country, providing 45% of employment, and contributing 52% to the nation’s GDP. MSMEs however often face challenges when adapting to digital transformation, the digitization, and optimization of its processes. This is usually because these businesses are yet to realize the benefits an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system could bring them, moreover the financial strain of implementing the same could likely impact their businesses.
Understanding these challenges, and seeking to support Sri Lanka’s MSMEs, Centrics Business Solutions has entered into a landmark partnership with USAID’s PSD Activity to support MSMEs across high-growth sectors such as apparel, commercial care, food processing, ICT, and tourism – with special consideration given to women-led enterprises. The two organizations officially entered the partnership to support Sri Lanka’s MSMEs in improving their operational growth, centralizing their business processes, and implementing sustainable practices by employing Odoo ERP solutions facilitated by Centrics Business Solutions. Moreover, the PSD Activity expands opportunities for MSMEs by facilitating financing to meet anticipated growth goals within the sector.
Explaining the significance of the collaboration, Mr. Arjuna Pathirana Director at Centrics said, “As a qualified digital solutions provider of Odoo ERP technology, we are delighted to join USAID’s CATALYZE Sri Lanka Private Sector Development Activity on this empowering initiative. It will truly enable us to foster the next generation of successful businesses in Sri Lanka with technological development, enhanced capacity, and improved competitiveness, ensuring entrepreneurs have the knowledge to make informed decisions that strengthen Sri Lanka’s economic resilience and growth potential. This project will help MSMEs build their resilience to market changes and global economic shocks by connecting them with advisory services, modern technology, best-in-class technical assistance, and accelerated innovation. We invite MSMEs to make use of this golden opportunity to advance and reinforce their businesses with Odoo ERP technology.”
PSD’s Activity Team Lead, Juan Forero commented “We aim to collaborate with Business Advisory Service Providers (BASP) such as Centrics to facilitate increased access to technology and innovative capacity for MSMEs. These businesses could leverage these tools to achieve greater business growth and PSD believes that by creating stronger value propositions, including better pricing, BASPs will be able to increase the uptake of their services which will result in creating win-win relationships.”
Centrics is a leading Odoo Silver Partner, empowering organizations with bold, diverse, and resilient business solutions. We work with clients from across Asia, North America, Scandinavia, and Middle Eastern regions. We have a large pool of Odoo-certified professionals with knowledge in finance, manufacturing, warehouse management, hospitality, professional services, and more. Centrics works in close collaboration with Odoo Hong Kong to serve our clients with cutting-edge ERP solutions.
This is one constituent of the longstanding partnership between the U.S. and Sri Lanka to support local MSMEs in building business confidence, increasing both domestic and international competitiveness, strengthening business stability, promoting economic growth, and bolstering women’s labor force participation in Sri Lanka.
