U.S.-based oil giant ExxonMobil has signed on as a strategic partner of the inaugural Guyana International Petroleum Business Summit & Exhibition (GIPEX 2018) billed for February 7-9, 2018 at the Georgetown Marriott.

The event, which UK-based Valiant Business Media in collaboration with the Government of Guyana is organising, aims to present investors with options to explore the huge hydrocarbon potential of the country. In a joint statement issued by the Natural Resources Ministry and the Guyana Office for Investment (GO-INVEST), it was explained that the summit will provide a networking platform for existing petroleum companies, service providers, equipment companies and investors.

“GIPEX will also provide a platform for researchers/scientists and academics to share their research work, while the participants from industry can promote their products,” the release stated. ExxonMobil Guyana’s Senior Director, Public and Government Affairs, Kimberly Brasington, said the company is very excited to be the Strategic Partner in the GIPEX 2018 summit.

“Bringing information about the oil-and-gas industry and the Liza project to a larger audience is paramount in our mission here in Guyana,” said Brasington. “We hope the exhibition will provide knowledge and information-sharing opportunities, and aid in building relationships for the Guyanese community that will outlast the event. We welcome this initiative undertaken by the Ministry of Natural resources, Go-Invest and Valiant Business Media.”

Owen Verwey, Chief Executive Officer, Go-Invest, said, “GO-INVEST is pleased to welcome Exxon as the Strategic Partner in GIPEX 2018. This convention is an important initiative in collaboration with the Ministry of Natural Resources, Guyana and Valiant Business Media, United Kingdom to promote the Oil & Gas sector globally and attract investment & expertise in this important area of our economy.”

Verwey said too that Go-Invest looks forward to working with ExxonMobil and other key players to make the launch of GIPEX a success. He noted too that the event creates a platform for Guyanese at every level to participate and familiarise themselves with the developments of the petroleum sector. “We are also looking forward to welcoming international stakeholders looking to explore Guyana as an investment destination,” he posited

Shariq AbdulHai, Managing-Director, Valiant Business Media, United Kingdom, expressed his entity’s delight at having ExxonMobil on board as the Strategic Partner of GIPEX 2018. “As the world’s leading publicly owned energy company and the main player in Guyana, we look at Exxon’s partnership with GIPEX as being of great importance.  We look forward to working with Exxon to use GIPEX as a medium to share information with the people of Guyana about the oil-and-gas sector in general and the Liza project in particular,” he said.
AbdulHai said the Valiant Business Media is very optimistic and looks forward to meeting with their Guyanese counterparts, in addition to the international companies, at GIPEX, with a view to establishing business relationships and exploring opportunities in this important economic sector of the country.

ExxonMobil, along with its joint-venture partners Hess and CNOOC Nexen, is expected to commence oil production in the Liza field in 2020. In the meantime, they and other international oil companies (IOCs) are continuing to explore.