Narayan AmmachchiThe Miami Herald has cited Nearshore Americas for its research on Cuba’s hidden technology talent pool, explaining how foreign multinationals are silently sourcing skilled software professionals on the island. (The article appeared on the front page of the Herald, last Friday, March 3, 2017.)
The news daily said Cuba could be home to the largest pool of untapped IT talent in the Americas, adding that the communist government has given “tacit permission” for programmers to work for U.S. companies.
An increasing number of multinational companies are trying to tap into the workforce, the paper reported, quoting Kirk Laughlin, founder and managing director of Nearshore Americas.
“There is a lot of justifiable reasons for this excitement because of the quality of the Cuban workforce,” said Laughlin.
In the interview, Laughlin talked about ongoing software development projects he is aware of on the island, including the projects underway in the Bacardí building.
He also explained how the embargo and legal uncertainties are keeping foreign multinationals at bay. Cuba, he said, “is still more complex than many of its neighbor countries that offer incentives for investors.”
Many software professionals in Cuba are also freelancing for foreign companies, said the paper, again citing the Nearshore Americas study.
Conducted shortly after the former U.S. President Barack Obama began easing relations with the island, the study unveiled Cuba’s software programming strengths, hubs of talent in Havana and outside of the capital, besides explaining the prospects for engaging the Cuban IT talent pool.
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