The first set of 27,000 laptops under the One Laptop Per Family (OLPF) project is expected to be available for distribution in the last week of October.
Permanent Secretary in the Office of the President, Dr Nanda Gopaul (left), exchanges contract documents with Managing Director of Haier Overseas Projects Division, Sun Yongle, at the contract signing ceremony at OP on Wednesday
This announcement was made by President Bharrat Jagdeo on Wednesday, September 14 as he witnessed the signing of the contract with the Chinese company Haier Electronic Group Co Ltd at his office.
The US$7.5 million contract was signed by the Permanent Secretary of the Office of the President, Nanda Gopaul, and Haier’s Overseas Project Division Managing Director Sun Yongle.
In brief remarks, President Jagdeo said the contract signing is an important occasion for Guyana, as it marks the beginning of a brighter future. “Within two years, every home in Guyana would have a computer, and most homes would be connected to the Internet, and every Guyanese person – from grandparents to kids – would be computer literate,” the president explained. “This is very important for the future that we are working to build in Guyana, a future that gives citizens a greater say on empowerment.” Jagdeo pointed to the importance of Internet and information access, and how transformative it can be. He described the investment as a lifelong one that will develop and encourage inquiring minds among citizens. “They are going to demand more of their governments; they are going to demand more of policymakers; they are going to demand more of themselves, if they are aware of what’s going on around the world,” the president opined.
The president is pleased that the country was able to attract more bidders in the second tender process, including Haier, one of the world’s biggest manufacturers of appliances and consumer electronics, including laptops.
According to him, Guyana is pleased and willing to do business with a company of this nature; one that guarantees good quality and functional instruments.
Haier’s Overseas Projects Division managing director said the company is pleased to be working with Guyana in the promotion of education and the empowerment of its people.
He disclosed that the company is looking to make bigger investments here.
“We are discussing to have a local manufacturing plant in Guyana. Hopefully, in two years or less, we can have an assembly line in Guyana and the Guyana people can use the product made in Guyana,” Sun revealed.
The company will, in the interim, set up a local call centre where service engineers will address concerns of Guyanese and forward them to the head office.
Local auto dealer Brian James is the contact person on the ground. Haier was one of three finalists of a group of 11 that were evaluated by a comprehensive set of financial and technical criteria.
Comments are closed.