Guyana has potential as premier destination for BPO operations – Finance Minister

…lauds Express International for investment, job creation

The Government is committed to creating an environment that promotes Guyana as a premier destination for Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) services, which can provide vast employment opportunities.
This is according to Senior Minister with responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh during a tour of Express International Incorporated’s BPO facility, on Hadfield Street, Georgetown, on Tuesday. He was accompanied by Guyana Office for Investment (GO-Invest) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Peter Ramsaroop.

Dr Singh referenced the fact that many businesses internationally are recognising Guyana as a prime destination for BPO services, given its English-speaking population, its educated workforce and its close proximity to the United States of America and Canada.
“As a Government, we would like to see the BPO sector continue to grow. It has the potential to grow far beyond its current size for the reasons: Guyana, of course, is an English-speaking country; we have a very well-educated population; we are strategically located on the same time zone as the East Coast of North America, and we’re very close to the US and Canada. We’re very easily accessible to the big North American cities. As you know, we are five or six hours away from New York. We are four or five hours away from Miami,” he noted.
The Senior Finance Minister went on to laud the President and CEO of Express International, Ken Deocharran, for pursuing his vision, which has since materialised into a successful BPO facility in Guyana, employing 285 Guyanese and heading towards expansion soon.

He commended the businessman for his investment in Guyana and alluded to the fact that the current Irfaan-Ali led Government strongly supported any effort by businesses which also aligns with its vision of diversification of the economy in the form of expansion of sectors such as the services and tourism industries. This, he noted, will contribute to ensuring the country maintains a stable macro-economic environment.
“In the pre-2015 period, we had already recognised the vast potential for BPO service, and we had invested a lot of policy effort into the sector,” Minister Singh said.
He posited that Express International Inc was one example of what could be achieved by persons in the Guyanese Diaspora willing to invest in the country.
“This is an example of a Guyanese in the Diaspora who saw an opportunity in Guyana and an example of what can be achieved in the BPO sector,” the Minister reiterated.
Dr Singh also recognised that the business had a Guyanese management team of highly professional persons and based on his assessment following the tour, boasted an impressive operation.
“We have come into Guyana and made a huge impact on the labour market, providing great job opportunities for Guyanese people, and I’m looking to continue to grow that as fast as I can to potentially get to a bigger number than 285, with the hopes of getting it into the thousands,” the businessman told the Finance Minister during the tour.
On its website, Express International Inc says it provides a comprehensive range of services aimed at optimising business processes ensuring positive outcomes for organisations. It also lists itself as specialising in expedited high-value shipping services, providing these services to global and domestic clients through distinguishable, time-sensitive service, specialised equipment, and professionally-trained staff.
CEO Deocharran is a 37-year-old  Guyanese native who started a trucking and courier service business in 2006 and built it into a US$15 million company with roughly 120 trucks delivering goods throughout the tri-state area and in Chattanooga, Tennessee in the United States. (G8)