Against the backdrop of changing international relations, Russia is strengthening its connections with Asian countries not only through diplomacy, trade and major investment projects, but also through employment opportunities. Work programmes are giving young people from Asia the chance to gain their first professional experience abroad, learn the Russian language and experience the country’s culture firsthand.
For Russia, these initiatives also help meet workforce requirements. But their impact goes beyond employment. Participants work alongside Russian colleagues, form friendships with people from different countries, share their experiences with relatives and communities back home, and in some cases even encourage others to follow the same path. In this way, labour migration can contribute to closer people-to-people relations through personal experiences and everyday connections rather than official diplomatic statements.
ASIA AND RUSSIA: BUILDING CONNECTIONS THROUGH PEOPLE
Russia’s growing engagement with Asia is often viewed through the lens of trade, transport links, energy cooperation and international partnerships. Yet long-term relationships between countries are also shaped by the connections established between ordinary people.
The experiences of two sisters from Sri Lanka, Lashani and Mina, offer an example of how these connections can develop in everyday life. The sisters travelled to Russia through the Alabuga Start programme, faced the challenges of adapting to a new language and environment, gained their first experience of independent life abroad and eventually decided to pursue their future in Russia.
FROM SCHOOL EXAMS TO A NEW CAREER IN RUSSIA: LASHANI’S JOURNEY
Lashani arrived in Russia from Sri Lanka at the age of 20. After completing her final examinations, she was looking for an opportunity to gain international work experience while becoming financially independent.
She first heard about the Alabuga Start programme through a friend. One of the biggest challenges she faced after arriving was learning Russian. However, language classes, guidance from teachers and support from her colleagues helped her gradually overcome the language barrier and adjust to her new surroundings.
Soft Gallery Celebrates Six Years with New Office Opening and Global Expansion Plans for Gallery HR
Sri Lankan technology company Soft Gallery (Pvt) Ltd has marked its sixth anniversary with the opening of a new modern office, signalling the company’s next phase of growth with a strong focus on artificial intelligence (AI), intelligent automation, advanced HR analytics and international expansion.
The new office is more than an expansion of the company’s physical footprint, representing Soft Gallery’s continued evolution as an enterprise technology company and its ambitions to take its flagship HR technology platform, Gallery HR, into new global markets.
Founded with a focus on developing reliable, scalable and practical enterprise technology, Soft Gallery has grown from a focused software initiative into an established technology firm. Today, Gallery HR is used by approximately 350 organizations across seven countries, supporting workforce management for enterprises, mid-sized businesses and fast-growing startups.
During its early years, the company concentrated on developing a strong technology architecture, user-focused functionality and scalable infrastructure rather than pursuing rapid commercial expansion. This product-led approach helped establish Gallery HR as an enterprise-level platform designed to address complex HR and workforce management requirements.
The newly opened office reflects the company’s continued growth and its long-term commitment to its employees, customers and technology. It also marks the beginning of an ambitious international expansion strategy aimed at taking Gallery HR beyond Sri Lanka and into high-growth markets.
As part of this strategy, Soft Gallery plans to focus on selected markets across Africa, East Asia and the Middle East, while exploring opportunities in other emerging enterprise technology hubs.
The company is also strengthening Gallery HR’s technology capabilities through the integration of practical AI solutions and automated workflows. These enhancements are intended to reduce administrative workloads, support better workforce decision-making and deliver more seamless digital experiences for employees.
Dilantha Perera, Founder, Director and Chief Executive Officer of Soft Gallery, said the company’s journey had begun six years ago with a belief that meaningful technology could be developed from Sri Lanka.
“Six years ago, we started with a simple idea and a belief that we could build meaningful technology from Sri Lanka. Today, Gallery HR is trusted by around 350 organizations, but we see this as only the beginning. Our new office represents our confidence in the future and our commitment to investing further in our people, technology, and product.
How Employment Opportunities in Russia Are Creating New Prospects for Young Women from Asia
