President of the Guyana Oil and Gas Energy Chamber (GOGEC), Manniram Prashad, believes that capacity building and access to financing are among the critical components required for positioning Guyanese suppliers in the local oil and gas sector as industry leaders.
Currently, some 1500 Guyanese suppliers are providing goods and services to the country’s burgeoning oil and gas sector, while thousands of Guyanese have been trained and employed in key roles in offshore operations, engineering, logistics, compliance, and other areas.
Delivering the feature address at the opening of the Guyana Supplier Forum 2025 held at the Marriott Hotel in Georgetown on Friday, Prashad noted that while hundreds of locally owned companies are registered on the Local Content Secretariat’s database, many of them are providing services not just to ExxonMobil Guyana and its prime contractors but are also expanding to regional markets.
However, the GOGEC Head pointed out that more can be done, especially to further expand the reach of Guyanese suppliers regionally and internationally.
“While we celebrate the progress, we are also very aware that this is just the beginning. There is still a long road ahead to ensure that local suppliers are not just included but are positioned to lead.”
“To achieve this, we must continue to focus on capacity building… so that our local suppliers can meet international standards and compete with the best; access to finance so businesses can grow and invest without the burdens of cash flow limitations; [and] technology transfer so innovation can thrive within our borders,” Prashad stated.
According to the GOGEC president, the Chamber is committed to working with ExxonMobil, the Guyana Government, and all other stakeholders to create an enabling environment where local businesses can flourish.
“We support initiatives that promote collaboration over competition, sustainability over short-term gains, and partnerships over mere transactions. We envision a future where Guyanese companies not only provide goods and services in-country but also become regional exporters of oil and gas expertise, and where our young people view careers in energy not just as jobs but as lifelong journeys filled with purpose and innovation,” he posited.
It is for this reason, Prashad added, that platforms like the Guyana Supplier Forum are important since they create a space for connection, dialogue, and shared learning, as well as help to demystify processes, open doors, and build trust between operators and the supplier community.
ExxonMobil engagement
On this note, the GOGEC Head commended ExxonMobil Guyana for demonstrating its commitment to ensuring that Guyanese and locally owned businesses play a key role in the oil and gas industry. The United States (US)-based oil major is currently operating the prolific Stabroek Block offshore Guyana along with its co-venturers.
From logistics providers and catering services to security companies and technical support, ExxonMobil had been ensuring that Guyanese firms were part of the country’s oil and gas story from the very beginning – since its exploration phase.
This proactive engagement, according to Prashad, helped set the tone for the current dynamic and expanding ecosystem of Guyanese-owned businesses supporting the sector. These were further bolstered by the Local Content legislation that was subsequently enacted by the Guyana Government, in which some 40 areas have been carved out specifically for Guyanese individuals and companies to benefit from.
Meanwhile, Socioeconomic Manager at ExxonMobil Guyana, Lorna Carlson, recognised that more Guyanese individuals and businesses are scaling up, building capacity, and forming joint ventures to capitalise on the opportunities within the oil and gas sector.
She says, “As the operator, ExxonMobil Guyana Limited is committed to deepening our engagement with local suppliers, improving access to procurement opportunities, and supporting the development of a world-class supplier chain… Today’s forum is an opportunity to strengthen those credentials.”
At Friday’s Supplier Forum, teams from various oil and gas companies detailed opportunities that are available to Guyanese and how they can position themselves to take advantage of these.
“We’re here today because we believe that by working together in new and innovative ways, we can create lasting value, especially for the people of Guyana,” Carlson added.
Among those innovative tools mentioned is the Social Performance Network – a programme run by ExxonMobil and 11 of its prime contractors aimed at identifying and communicating opportunities for Guyanese and local businesses in the oil and gas sector.
First held in 2021, the Guyana Supplier Forum is the Centre for Local Business Development’s flagship forum connecting local and international businesses with opportunities in the oil and gas sector and more.
