Guyana’s investment regime makes it an attractive destination for investors – GMSA

President after India visit

Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA)

President Rafeek Khan has stated that with Guyana’s investment regime, many foreign companies have indicated their interest in the various opportunities available in the country.

Khan was at the time participating in a webinar with other Private Sector players who were part of a high-level delegation led by President Dr Irfaan Ali to India in January. The team had included a massive Private Sector contingent that participated in the Madhya Pradesh Global Investors Summit in Indore, India.

“Companies are very, very excited to partner in Guyana. The cost of getting leased land is more lucrative in Guyana... We see our tax incentives are being easier to do business in Guyana. So, there is a wide range of opportunities in Guyana and why businesses want to come in,” he stated.

According to Khan, the GMSA had entered into several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with Indian companies for potential collaboration and partnership in a number of areas, including furniture manufacturing.

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“We’ve met with one of the largest manufacturing companies in India for furniture [Mehidpurwala Furnishers Pvt Ltd]. As a matter of fact, their showroom alone is 100,000 square feet with seven floors. That company will be in Guyana within the next 60 days. They’ve already started their due diligence in checking out and doing some feasibility studies remotely. But this company is very anxious to come into Guyana to see how they can help build out the country [in the area of furniture-making], both for industrial and residential use,” he posited.

The MoU with Mehidpurwala Furnishers PVt (MFP) was signed on January 11 and seeks to facilitate the expansion of the furniture manufacturing industry in Guyana and allow both countries to access more opportunities for capacity building, transfer of technology and skills, capital, and market development.

The GMSA had noted at the time that the Indian company was looking to form consortiums in order to expand operations to Guyana as well as enter new markets, both domestically and in the region.

During the visit, President Ali had visited MFP’s massive showroom which featured a wide variety of furniture pioneered by the company for every type of consumer, from affordable to luxury furniture which is utilised in the housing, hotel, hospital, educational, industrial, warehousing and other industries.

MFP is a fourth-generation company with more than 135 years of experience. The furniture products are constructed with materials such as Indian Tik wood, pre-laminated engineered board, and steel, some of which will be imported from India and finished in Guyana. Guyanese hardwood species will be used in manufacturing the furniture as well, thereby increasing opportunities within the forestry sector and building Indigenous manufacturing capacities within Guyana.

In addition to MFP, the GMSA also inked an agreement with NBR Cooling Systems for the establishment of a radiator manufacturing plant in Guyana.

“You might ask the question why a radiator company in Guyana? It is not a radiator for Guyana, but it is beyond Guyana. The market is there in the United States, in the Caribbean, in Latin

America, in South America whereby Guyana could produce or import certain raw material to make radiators… and that is being put together to make radiator coolers for the automotive industry for engines and turbines, and generators and so on,” Khan stated. This agreement between the GMSA and NBR, dated January 12, will see the Association identifying and engaging Guyanese companies or forming consortiums to establish a manufacturing/ assembly plant in the engine cooling (automotive) sector. The company will leverage NBR’s technological advancement, full range of high-quality raw materials and components, market resources, and access to international compliance codes and practices.

During the initial stages of establishment, NBR is committed to injecting approximately US$1 million. The framework for the business will incorporate: the transfer of skills and technologies of manufacturing and assembling radiator con- denser and charge-air coolers from India to Guyana; manufacturing and production of radiator condenser and charge-air coolers made from aluminium, copper and brass; assembling and exporting various radiator condensers and charge-air coolers made from aluminium, copper, and brass to all the countries in Latin America and the United States of America; importing all the machinery and raw material required for manufacturing of radiator condenser and charge-air coolers made from aluminium, copper and brass.

NBR Directors have been in the radiator business for the last 20 years, and the company is a well-established manufacturer of a wide array of engine radiators; radiator cores, intercoolers and condensers and engine coolant.

The company is renowned for its high quality and standards and serves several industries such as the automotive, generator, and boring machines sectors. With an aim to expand its business operations and grow from being the second largest market player in cooling systems in India, NBR selected Guyana to execute the same vision globally.

According to Khan, the Association is also working on getting Indian companies to invest in other lucrative sectors in Guyana such as agro-processing, while adding that major developments will be made in the coming months in areas such as ICT and human resources recruitment, among others.

Editor: Tusika Martin

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Errant drivers, recklessness on roadways

Calls for better usage of our roadways seems to be falling on deaf ears as the accident death toll continues to climb.

Already the Home Affairs Ministry has confirmed that road fatalities have increased by 100 per cent. In a bid to caution road users and more so motorcyclists, Commissioner of Police, Clifton Hicken has called for better use of the roadways. To quote him: “We are going to step up the enforcement, it is necessary for us to do that. The category of road users that is giving us problems is the motorcyclist; so we are going to start a campaign, but we are going to enforce and sensitise them in terms of how they should use the road.”

But on his heels of his cautionary words, two Berbice men - 30-year-old Devindra Lakhraj and 24-year-old Ronny Persaud – crashed into a motorcar along the Number 79 Village public road in Corriverton, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne). A mere 24 hours later, 38-year-old Samlall Mahaice was speeding and lost control of his motorcar collided with a culvert at Belle Vue Public Road at Canal Number Two Polder, West Bank Demerara (WBD).

There is no doubt that there is always an element of risk whenever someone uses the roadways, be it a motorist, passenger, cyclist or pedestrian. This is somewhat inherent, since it is believed that accidents will happen. Often, the fault is not with the one being cautious, the risks may manifest in various forms, such as a lack of street lighting while driving at nights; potholes, which when swerved from could place a vehicle in the direct path of another; absence of or non-functioning traffic lights, which can create uncertainty among drivers; roaming animals; speeding; drinking and driving; narrow streets and lack of traffic signage. In addition, disobedience of basic traffic etiquette and other rules exacerbate the risks.

Seemingly common now is the disrespect for designated major roads. Many drivers, including some within the public transportation system, refuse to adhere to what is mandatory. As a result, a number of accidents occur frequently at some of those points. Similarly, the practice of running red lights and the green signal that allows pedestrians to cross continues unabated, predominantly by minibus drivers. The danger this poses needs no explanation.

While there is a plethora of traffic violations on a daily basis, some appear more prominent. Undertaking, cutting in front of a vehicle, sticking out of a minibus conductor’s arm to do likewise from the other side, seem the new norm of driving. Aside from the obvious danger, especially to young and inexperienced drivers, and being an irritant, it is blatant bullyism and a potent source for road rage.

It appears that those who engage in such practices do not see themselves as being errant, or what they do as a traffic violation. Lanes that allow for turning-on-red are abused and used as if it’s the right-of-way. Speeding is foremost, causing areas that are supposed to be free of minibuses to become dangerous.

In addition, some drivers seemingly take pride in having an alcoholic beverage in their possession while transporting passengers. Adding to the woes of those who abide by traffic rules is that they are verbally abused when trying to stave off a potential transgressor.

What is desperately needed is a sustained national campaign to reduce traffic violations, and let the law take its course on the errant ones, regardless of who they are. The carelessness exhibited puts all road users at risk. This is where the National Road Safety Council would need to be supported and probably empowered to have a more visible presence and increased influence all year round.

It must be noted that drivers are not the only violators of traffic rules, for some pedestrians are equally guilty. Aside from the common jaywalking, they cross busy intersections when not authorised, and refuse to use the overhead pedestrian walkways, thereby bringing danger to themselves and others. Like errant drivers, they seem empowered to not observe basic traffic rules. This will only change when there is a constant stream of violators up the stairs of the courts across the country. There is a hope that that is not wishful thinking.