Minister Singh and officials of Baishanlin International Forest Development Incorporated
Foreign investments in Linden have significantly improved over the last few years, Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh said.
He made the remarks during his recent visit to the bauxite mining town where he toured the operations of Baishanlin International Forest Development Incorporated and Toucan Connections International Call Centre, both foreign companies based there.
Baishanlin International Forest Development Incorporated is located in Coomacka. The company is looking to expand its operations, with the construction of a new factory. The new factory will be constructed at Conception on the Linden Highway.
Baishanlin Managing Director Chu Hongbo, speaking through a translator, told the minister that construction is slated to begin next month. The total cost of phase one of the project is estimated at some US$46 million and will stretch over a two-year period.
1000 jobs for Linden
The construction of the new factory will see a major increase in employment at the facility, and according to the managing director, about 1000 persons will be employed.
The company also intends to boost production by adding veneers and furniture to its product line.
The minister said the government welcomes the investments made by the Chinese company, and urged the managing director to speed up construction of the new factory so that new jobs for Lindeners can be created. Dr Singh said he is particularly happy with the investment into value- added products, while noting that the company has been responding favourably to the call.
Toucan Connections Supervisor Mary Chung in discussion with Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh and other officials
Hongbo said the company looks forward to the continued support of the government, and he will be reporting on the progress of the project.
The minister was given a tour of the factory where he saw millions of dollars in equipment waiting to be put to use.
Meanwhile, at the call centre, the minister saw 124 young Guyanese men and women communicating with customers from the United States of America, Canada, the Caribbean and other parts of the world in a technologically advanced environment.
Supervisor Mary Chung told the minister the centre is still looking for new clients, and noted that the acquisition of such will lead to the company increasing its staff to 150. Employees are trained at the centre, which is one of the few companies in Linden with more than 100 employees. The government was instrumental in upgrading the old Guyana Stores facility at Linden into a modern facility, which attracted the St Kitts-based call centre company.
