IPED celebrates 30 years of laudable support to small entrepreneurs

Apr 03, 2016 News

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While 1986 was a year in which Guyana faced economic hardships, that very year was also the beginning

of new things. This is according to Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Institute of Private Enterprise Development Limited (IPED), Mr. Ramesh Persaud.
And the beginning of new things, according to Persaud, came into being when a businessman with a track record of success and resilience envisioned the need to grow and develop small businesses as the basis of contributing to a turnaround of the local economy.  In so doing, the businessman, Dr. Yesu Persaud, the Chairman and Founder of IPED, was able to mobilise a team of other successful peers to support and implement his vision.
Ramesh Persaud, who was at the time speaking at IPED’s 30th anniversary dinner, held at the Pegasus Hotel, Friday evening, credited Dr. Yesu Persaud with moving IPED from an idea to the success story it is today.
“I believe that he is more than deserving of our thanks for his vision, his inspiration and the indefatigable work he has done to bring IPED this far…30 years and going strong,” Persaud said.
Dr. Persaud’s effort, according to him, has been well complemented by the hard working members of the board who helped to realise the vision that IPED is today. IPED commenced operation on April 1, 1986, as the Institute of Small Enterprise Development Limited (ISED). Its name was eventually changed to IPED in 1991.
Its main intent was, and still is, to grow and develop small businesses and to rejuvenate and inspire a culture of entrepreneurship. And according to Persaud, IPED has been quietly making its mark on the development of Guyana for the last 30 years.
But there have been some myths surrounding its operation that Persaud sought to explain away.  He pointed out that not only is IPED not a bank, but it isn’t a charity, a political organisation, government agency, or an irresponsible or usurious money lender. What it in fact is, Persaud divulged, is a not-for-profit organisation, a non-governmental organisation,

a national development institution that is classified as an institution of national character and a self-sustaining development institution. As such IPED doesn’t have shareholders and there is therefore no requirement to distribute any surplus. The Board and Directors, according to Persaud, all serve on a voluntary basis.
The CEO pointed out too that IPED is focused on improving livelihoods through sustainable micro and small business development. This translates to supporting micro and small businesses with finance, technology, mentoring and training. And according to Persaud, “IPED loans can be as small as $40,000 or as much as $20 million.” He disclosed too that non-traditional collateral is used when necessary, adding that the terms are customised to the needs of the small business. “The paperwork is simplified as business plans and financial statements are not required for most applicants,” Persaud disclosed as he added that “all business and financial information is derived from interviews and discussions with the beneficiaries.”
In addition to providing the financial backing, Persaud said that clients are also provided with periodical training in small business management, project management, marketing, record keeping and financial literacy.  Persaud insisted that “every entrepreneur that accesses our services benefits from mentoring and business counselling through the frequent supervisory visits by our officers.”
IPED services, according to him, are available countrywide. “We usually are everywhere in Guyana for everyone in Guyana…” Persaud added.
IPED currently has branches in Mabaruma, Port Kaituma, Anna Regina, Charity, Parika, Vreed-en-Hoop, Georgetown, Rosignol, New Amsterdam, Port Mourant, Corriverton, Lethem and Linden. It also has officers who visit areas including Annai, Mahdia and Bartica on a regular basis.

Persaud pointed out that while it can be deemed as small that for every $100 being loaned by the commercial banks, IPED lends about $2, “we have seen the impact it has on the economy.” Given the support that IPED has extended over the years, Persaud remarked that “IPED is indeed a success story in contributing to Guyana’s Development.”
But, according to him, IPED’s operation has not been without some criticism. He, moreover, added that “to those who only focus on interest rate, I would just say the following: sustainability. And I would add: 100, 000 loans disbursed to date.”
Persaud also emphasised that IPED is recognised as an institute of good governance and transparency and can therefore be a model to be followed by many other non-governmental organisations. He said too that for all the 30 years IPED has been in operation, it has audited accounts, all of which are published online. Added to this, he disclosed that detailed information on IPED’s products and loan portfolio are also reported to the Bank of Guyana for statistical purposes and to the IDB Microfinance Information Exchange (MIX), also known as mixmarket.org.
MIX, Persaud related, tracks information for more than 2,700 companies similar to IPED globally. And, according to him, IPED has received certificates of transparency from MIX with a four diamond rating. He, however, sought to make it clear that “the only reason we are not at five is because we don’t do annual performance ratings, largely because we think it is unnecessary and too costly.”
Turning his attention to what he believes has gained little public attention, Persaud highlighted Friday that it was only in January that Government passed amendments in Parliament to the Credit Reporting Act.  These adjustments to the Act were deemed, in many quarters, to be of minor importance. In fact, it is quite the opposite, said Persaud, who added that “these changes in my opinion were both very bold and innovative.” He is therefore very optimistic that the changes will have a transformative impact on the financial landscape of lending and will benefit small business borrowers significantly. Small business borrowers, as a result, he added, can now monetize their usual good repayment track record and, according to Persaud, IPED has already started to reap the benefits of the Credit Bureau.
At Friday’s forum some outstanding entrepreneurs were honoured as was Dr. Yesu Persaud for giving 30 years of dedicated and exemplary service to IPED. He received a plaque of appreciation from IPED which was presented by President David Granger, who along with other dignitaries graced the anniversary dinner.

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