GOGEC, GTI seal skills-boosting pact to prepare youth for oil & gas boom

The Guyana Oil and Gas Energy Chamber (GOGEC) will soon formalize a major technical training partnership with the Government Technical Institute (GTI); a move aimed at better preparing Guyana’s youth for careers within the rapidly expanding oil and gas sector.

The announcement was widely welcomed following remarks delivered Saturday night by President of the Guyana Oil and Gas Energy Chamber, Manniram Prashad, at the chamber’s Annual Awards and Induction Ceremonial Dinner 2025, held at Guyana Marriott Hotel, Georgetown.
According to the chamber’s president, the MOU with GTI will serve as a national upskilling anchor, targeting technical program development, industry-aligned skill delivery, and workplace preparedness.
“This partnership will focus on developing technical programmes, practical training opportunities, and industry-specific skills that better prepare our young workforce for careers in the oil and gas industry. This is a major step in aligning education with industry needs and supporting the development of a skilled, job-ready generation. Beyond these partnerships, GOGEC continues to serve as a bridge between local entrepreneurs and international companies. Through trade missions, business expos, international conferences, and sector-specific events, we have fostered meaningful connections that translate into real business opportunities and strengthened local capacity,” Prashad explained.

The MOU with GTI will join a sleet of similar agreements signed this year with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Guyana, GO-Invest, Maritime Administration Department (MARAD), University of Guyana & CBMEX Energy Guyana, Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN), Petroleum Commission of Ghana, Suriname Energy Chamber (SEC), KKF – Suriname Chamber of Commerce and Confederation of the Indian Industry (CII).
“This year, GOGEC was honoured to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with CAMPETROL, strengthening regional ties between Guyana and Columbia and supporting shared goals in training, knowledge transfer, and private sector advancement…. These MOUs are not symbolic, they are tools we actively use to build partnerships, advocate for fairness in procurement, and ensure local companies are given real opportunities to grow,” the GOGEC President said.
Further, Prashad said 2025 has been a year of reaffirmation for the Chamber, highlighting its rise as one of Guyana’s most active private-sector advocacy bodies within the energy economy.
“As we reflect on 2025, we do so with immense pride,” he said. “This year has reaffirmed GOGEC’s role as a pivotal catalyst in shaping the private sector’s participation in Guyana’s oil and gas industry. It has been a year of impactful advocacy, deeper collaboration, and expanded opportunities for Guyanese businesses and citizens.”
The Chamber President noted that accessibility, sustainability, and fairness remain guiding pillars of the organization.
“Our Chamber remains committed to ensuring that this sector’s growth is inclusive, sustainable, and beneficial to all,” Prashad underscored. “We continue to champion transparency, strengthened local content, and the creation of an enabling environment where Guyanese businesses – large and small – can thrive.”
Reinforcing the Chamber’s long-term focus on developing youth for industry leadership, he added: “We believe deeply that the future of this industry belongs to our youth, and so we must equip them – early – with the knowledge and confidence to lead it”.

2026 magazine, industry missions
Beyond academic integration, Prashad shared that the Chamber continues creating international business pathways for young professionals and entrepreneurs alike.
“Beyond these partnerships, GOGEC continues to serve as a bridge between local entrepreneurs and international companies,” he said. “Through trade missions, business expos, international conferences, and sector-specific events, we have fostered meaningful connections that translate into real business opportunities and strengthened local capacity.”
The Chamber’s 2026 Industry Magazine is expected to launch in the first quarter of 2026, showcasing both industry development and private-sector success narratives.
He also expressed special appreciation to ExxonMobil Guyana Limited for its continued investment in capacity building and its broader support to GOGEC’s initiatives.