South Sudan Could Learn from India’s BLS Model

(JUBA) – As more governments across the world rely on private companies to handle essential public services such as visa applications, passport renewals and biometric enrolment, the nature of consular and citizen services is rapidly changing. These shifts could provide valuable examples for developing countries like South Sudan, which is looking to modernise service delivery at home and abroad.

The outsourcing of administrative tasks, such as collecting biometric data, verifying documents and scheduling appointments has become a major part of international diplomacy and global mobility. This quiet transformation is driven by the need for greater efficiency, better security, and scalable systems, especially in an increasingly digital world.

One company leading this change is BLS International, a tech enabled service provider based in India. Founded in 2005, BLS started with a single visa processing contract for a European embassy in New Delhi. Today, it operates in more than 70 countries, managing consular and citizen services for numerous foreign ministries and diplomatic missions.

By the late 2000s, BLS International had grown its presence by winning contracts with Indian embassies in countries such as Kuwait, Sudan and Russia. During the next decade, it expanded into the Gulf, Southeast Asia, North America and the Asia-Pacific region. A major turning point came in 2016 when it signed a €175 million contract (approx. SSP 805 billion or $175 million) with Spain’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This agreement marked its arrival as a serious global player in outsourced consular services.

BLS International has also worked on digital governance projects in India. For example, it managed over 2,100 Seva Kendras (public service centres) across the state of Punjab, helping citizens access digital government services. The company’s current services go far beyond visa applications. They now include mobile biometric services, travel insurance and general support for consular operations.

Strategic acquisitions have been a key part of BLS International’s growth. In 2018, it acquired Starfin India Pvt. Ltd., a financial services firm. In 2022, it bought Zero Mass Pvt. Ltd. for $15.4 million (about SSP 70.8 billion). The company’s most significant acquisition to date came in 2024, when it purchased iDATA for approximately €80 million (around SSP 368 billion or $87 million). That deal expanded BLS International’s operations into 15 new countries, mainly supporting the governments of Germany, Italy, and the Czech Republic.

As of 2024, BLS International continues to provide a wide range of services across Europe, Africa, and Asia. It is publicly listed on both India’s National Stock Exchange and the Bombay Stock Exchange. The company is now one of many private firms that sit at the centre of public service delivery and international administration.

For countries like South Sudan where diplomatic reach is limited and consular services for citizens abroad remain underdeveloped, the BLS model offers important lessons. Partnering with trusted, experienced service providers could help improve service delivery, reduce wait times and build the credibility of public institutions both at home and in missions abroad.

Major Acquisitions by BLS International