Updated on Saturday, June 25, 2022 at 10:53 p.m. by Denis Chabrol

India’s state-owned construction company, Ashoka Buildcon Limited, has been urged to employ Guyanese and complete the project on time to required specifications if it is to stand a good chance of securing future contracts in Guyana, it said on Friday. officials.

“We expect you to execute this project to the highest standards in accordance with the specifications set out in the contract and we expect you to do so in a timely manner. There is a lot of business to be done in Guyana and in order to make you eligible for this business…for the pipeline of work that is yet to come, the best recommendation will be the successful and timely completion of this project,” the Minister said. of Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh said.

An Indian government company has also been contracted to oversee the construction of the Ogle Road, East Coast Demerara-to-Haags Bosch, East Bank Demerara Road. The cost of the 7.8-kilometer-long four-lane road is over $106.4 million, with a $50 million line of credit from the Export-Import Bank (EXIM) of the ‘India.

Concerns have been raised in the past about the employment of many Chinese to construct buildings such as the government-owned building that houses the Marriott Hotel as well as several other Chinese-funded projects that have been awarded to companies of this asian nation.

But Public Works Minister Juan Edghill has urged Ashoka Buildcon Limited to hire as many Guyanese as needed to build the road over the next two years. “We want you to mobilize as many locals as you could hire. We want you to hire as many locals as you could hire and we want to make sure that while you’re working you have a good relationship with the community,” he said.

Stressing that the contract was awarded through a transparent public procurement process, he urged Ashoka Buildcon Limited to “make its mark here”. He explained that the Indian company got the contract because India is funding the project in accordance with Guyanese and Indian laws.

India’s High Commissioner to Guyana, Dr JK Srinivasa – describing Ashoka Buildcon Limited as a Fortune 500 infrastructure company listed for 40 years, as well as oil and gas, healthcare buildings, transmission and distribution – encouraged this company to capitalize on “this experience and be part of Guyana’s growth story.” I hope you will be able to complete this project before the period of the contract because your reputation speaks in India,” he said, adding that the appointed project management consultant is Rail India Technical and Economic Service Limited.

The Indian diplomatic envoy called on the Guyanese government to “help this Indian company and advise and guide it so that it can have an environment conducive to the execution of the contract”.

India’s latest projects in Guyana include a new $12.7m North West District Ferry, $17.5m upgrades to regional hospitals, more water drainage pumps worth US$4 million, installation of solar power equipment to benefit 30,000 people at a cost of US$7.3 million, solar electrification of Cheddi Jagan International Airport at a cost of US$2 million and the awarding of over 4,650 Guyana Online Learning scholarships through Indian universities.

In recent years, India has built the $27 million Providence Cricket Stadium, a $2 million Information Technology Center of Excellence, a traffic light system and water drainage pumps. worth $5 million.

Dr. Srinivasa said that India does not expect anything in return for aid from its development partners to countries like Guyana. “For India, the most phenomenal principle of cooperation is to respect our development partners and be guided by their development priorities. We never impose ourselves on anyone. None of our aid comes with a matching factor. India’s development cooperation comes with no strings attached,” he said.

India and Guyana are member states of the United Nations and the Commonwealth.