Guyana a special place for investors – with vast investment potential — says Kirk Laughlin, founder of Nearshore Americas

NEARSHORE Americas Founder and Managing Director, Mr Kirk Laughlin, has identified Guyana as a special place for investors, especially those in the Business Outsourcing Industry (BPI).Nearshore Americas produces authoritative and independent news, analyses and research on the fast-emerging Latin America and Caribbean business process, Information Technology (IT), software and call centre industries.

The company, dedicated to expanding knowledge around Americas-centric investment and innovation, is on a mission to illuminate, inspire and motivate business decision-makers to more closely examine services’ investment and partnership opportunities in the Americas.
Describing Guyana’s prospect in BPO as “powerful,” Laughlin said the country is one of 15 contenders well positioned to capitalise on a US$10 Billion market between Information Technology (IT) and business call centres outsourcing in Latin America and the Caribbean.
But he pointed out that while some markets are ambitious and aggressive, virtually all are faced with some challenges, ranging from crime, violence, human capital development, proximity and time zone distance.
And in addition, he said there is no guarantee that ascendancy will continue, disclosing that some markets in the Nearshore arena have fallen out of favour for various reasons, including high costs and loss of edge.
On this point, the entrepreneur emphasised that Guyana is a standout.
“There is something very special here and this is what is really powerful about the prospect of the business outsourcing industry in which people like me, outsiders sometimes observe the specialness, the unique feature(s) that even people in that country don’t fully recognise,” he said.
SOUND INVESTMENT STRATEGY
Speaking at the grand opening yesterday of Qualfon’s new US$12 million contact centre campus at Providence, East Bank Demerara, Laughin commended Guyana’s investment strategy.
“Guyana has made it very clear that this country is willing to work with investors to meet them half-way, to provide value, to expose to these investors what the value is,” he said.
The Nearshore Americas Founder and Managing Director also noted the importance of human capital development for the success of business.
He said in the line of business, and in the case of Qualfon, it cannot be overstated as Qualfon is a company in constant contact with buyers, who ultimately influence it on where to step up operations.
Laughlin said a question he is frequently asked by clients, is not about the weather or who has the best rum, but about the state of human capital.