JICA terms Pakistan ‘the next ICT powerhouse’ Business May 1, 2021 TOKYO: Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has termed Pakistan as the next powerhouse of information and communication technology (ICT) sector as the country tech exports climbed six times over a decade, In a latest report, the state-run JICA said digital Pakistan policy 2018 that offers multiple incentives to IT sector is one of the key driving factors in this trend. Pakistan’s ICT exports have increased six-times in the past 10 years, achieving fastest growth in South Asia. Pakistan is a popular international outsourcing destination for its price competitiveness and presence of a large number of active freelancers, according to the report based on a yearlong study by JICA in collaboration with Pakistan Embassy Tokyo. The publication places Pakistan as a new partner for Japanese IT companies. The report gives an overview of ICT industry in Pakistan, its performance in IT exports, the support structure provided by Pakistani government, a pool of skilled and young human resource and, achievement of a growth lead ecosystem equally owned by public and private sectors.