Pres Ali discusses collaborations with IBM, tech majors from Silicon Valley

Guyana could soon see major partnerships being rolled out with some of the biggest tech companies in the world, with President Dr Irfaan Ali having visited a number of them to explore possible collaborations with Guyana.
Among the tech giants the Head of State toured was IBM, a multinational company that provides services and solutions in IT consulting and computer technology and is one of the world’s oldest and largest technology companies.
IBM has been credited for numerous technological innovations, including ATM machines and magnetic stripes on cards. And based on the discussions that have been had between IBM and Guyana, the company is willing to work with Guyana on developing innovative solutions.
According to a release from the Office of the President, the Head of State visited the IBM headquarters in Silicon Valley and met with Director Jeff Welser and his team. During the visit, they discussed the advancements and projects in quantum computing and data farming, which are aimed at creating a resilient and safe environment.
“IBM expressed its willingness to engage in further discussions to find collaborative solutions for practical challenges facing Guyana,” the release said.
Another company that President Ali toured was Microsoft’s Silicon Valley campus. Microsoft is another multinational technology corporation known for its software, services, devices and solutions including the Windows operating system and the Office suite.

President Ali also paid a visit to the innovation offices of Google X – the birthplace of many innovative startups in Silicon Valley. While there, he met with Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr Astro Teller and his team, and they discussed potential solutions and future collaboration between Guyana and Google X.
Additionally, President Ali met with a team of top executives from the hardware giant, Nvidia, at its headquarters in Silicon Valley. While there, the Nvidia team presented the company’s vision for sovereign nation artificial intelligence (AI) to the Guyanese delegation.
Nvidia is traditionally a graphics and hardware technology company that has gained momentum in other business streams, including the build-out of AI factories and upskilling of the workforce, as well as the video game industry where its graphic cards are known for their powerful performance in gaming, enabling high frame rates.
The President was accompanied by First Lady Arya Ali; Minister within the Ministry of Housing and Water, Susan Rodrigues, and Deputy Chief of Mission at the Guyana Embassy in Washington, Zulfikar Ally, during the visits.
President Ali was in California, United States (US) to attend the Berkeley Innovation Forum on Thursday, during which he was presented with the prestigious Global Leadership Award for Open Innovation 2024 from the University of California, Berkeley in recognition of his visionary leadership in promoting environmental sustainability and inclusive economic development on a global scale.

Guyana has been embarking on its own journey of digital upgrades, particularly for Government services. According to the President, his Government’s vision behind these digital services is to not only make the provision of such services more efficient, but to also remove the element of human biases and mistakes.
This is already in place at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) and other ports of entry, where an automated border management system that allows persons to fill up their immigration forms using this electronic platform, is up and running.
In February of this year, Deputy Chief Immigration Officer (DCIO), Superintendent Stephen Telford had announced during an interview with Radio Eve Leary that they were working on deploying the automated system at all key entry points.
At the time, the automated system was only being used at the CJIA. Previously passengers were required to fill out printed forms upon arrival, a task that often causes delays and frustration.
With the new system, travellers can complete these forms in advance, with the information being shared directly with the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA). And instead of waiting in long lines to be processed by an immigration officer, travellers can now simply swipe their ID Cards or passports and proceed.
This not only speeds up the entry process, but also reduces congestion at the airport, enhancing the overall passenger experience. This integration of digital systems reduces the likelihood of errors, speeds up customs processing, and ensures better tracking of goods entering the country.
The announcement aligns with the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government’s broader efforts to digitise healthcare. In fact, over 250 Guyanese are expected to be trained as Health Information Systems and Technology (HIST) technicians, who will implement, manage, and maintain a national Electronic Health Record (EHR) system.