–Global Commercial Director of ‘OES’ says, underscores that company’s investment size of approximately US$1M will grow soon
–plans to hire more Guyanese as it expands

IN the eyes of the Global Commercial Director of OES Asset Integrity Management Adam Gibson, Guyana is “the land of opportunities”, as the business climate is just ripe for companies to invest.

During an exclusive interview with the Guyana Chronicle on Tuesday, Gibson highlighted how OES Asset Integrity Management aims to provide local employment opportunities, whilst boosting the economy with their massive investment.
The company, which is a leading global provider of inspection, rectification and asset support solutions to the oil-and-gas industry, has an investment size of approximately US$1 million.

However, according to Gibson, this will soon grow, as there are expansion plans brewing.
“So, we all say the US is the land of opportunities, but I really believe Guyana is the land of opportunities for all Guyanese, and it’s also open to business for international partners,” he said, adding: “OES is a global leader in Asset Integrity, and with Guyana’s new oil-and-gas industry, we fill a gap locally to ensure assets are certified, fit and safe for use and maximising efficiency and optimization, and ensuring operations are completed safely and sustainably.”

As he went on to say: “Our local content plan allows these services to be delivered locally by Guyanese.”
Giving some insight into the future plans that the company has for Guyana, Gibson disclosed: “We’re actually going to go through another investment stage very soon; we’re going to pretty much triple the size of our operating capacity here through an investment; through a new office facility and a warehouse facility, and also upgrade and bring additional equipment to you.”

And, in commending the government for fostering such an impeccable business climate, especially with the Local Content Act, Gibson said: “I think that the government has done very well with the Local Content Act; it puts a control in place. It doesn’t limit; it puts a control in place to ensure that there’s opportunities here for local Guyanese [and] local companies to bring their skillsets up, and bring their expertise up.”

The Local Content Act was designed with the overarching goal that Guyana’s oil-and- gas industry can support an economy where small and medium-sized businesses can grow, thrive, and benefit from the country’s burgeoning oil and gas industry.

The laws are intended to ensure that companies operating in the country hire a certain percentage of local workers and use a certain percentage of local goods and services. These percentages are set to steadily increase as local workers and companies gain capacity and knowledge until Guyanese provide many services and fill most of the industry’s jobs.

But what is OES Asset Integrity Management doing to ensure that locals are not being left on the backburner and are key players in the country’s development?
Since OES Asset Integrity Management’s entry into the local market, the company has retained 89-90 per cent of local Guyanese as their workforce, both in the management team and field staff.

With Guyanese coming from various backgrounds and from all walks of life, Gibson noted that although they prioritise the youth, they have never left mature persons behind.
Upon establishing operations back in October 2020, he noted, there were many older Guyanese who were never given the opportunity to “spread their wings”, and OES Asset Integrity Management has given them that chance.

Additionally, the Global Commercial Director revealed that the company has a partnership with the Government Technical Institute (GTI) and the University of Guyana (UG) in order to ensure that their human resources are properly trained.

PROGRESSIVE MINDSET
The saying “education is the key to success” encapsulates precisely what Gibson means when he stated that investment within the education sector is crucial for Guyana’s long-term prosperity.
He said that although things take time, it is evident that the government has realised the importance of education and they have made investments in the right areas.

Gibson stated: “I think they’ve got a very progressive mindset on that. Everything can always be better or improved. And what they’ve got [is] that mindset to make it better and to improve it. These things take time, but I think they’re investing in the right areas, [like] in infrastructure and education.”

However, what this businessman would like to see is more access to capital for local entrepreneurs.
“There’s a lot of Guyanese here with a lot of potential, but sometimes it comes down to capital,” he underscored while noting that access to capital sometimes poses a difficulty.

Meanwhile, the company’s Financial and Administrative Manager Annalisa Beharry, who was also the first female Guyanese to be employed by the company, told this publication that OES Asset Integrity Management has placed its local staff on a high pedestal, and continues to invest in building their capability.

As such, when needed, the company deploys their local staff to various parts of the world for training if Guyana does not have the resources.
She also commended the government for expanding the business landscape to the point where international companies such as OES Asset Integrity Management feel safe in.

Beharry stated: “…From the inception, the incorporation of OES in Guyana, to date, growth has been tremendous and going forward, there is so much opportunities, which government has been providing the climate through local content; the investment in education and basically creating the atmosphere for foreign investment in Guyana and this opens the doors for so [many] for local people.”

EMPOWERMENT AND OPPORTUNITY
According to a field inspector from OES Asset Integrity Management, Timothy Singh, the company which is making a name for itself in Guyana has provided him with new opportunities.
For Singh, within Guyana’s burgeoning oil and gas sector, his life has become a “tale of transformation.”

The mechanical engineering student who hails from Sophia stated that the company provided a supportive environment where he could pursue his studies while gaining invaluable hands-on experience in his field.
“Today, as I continue my studies, I carry with me the lessons learned and experiences gained through my partnership with OES. My journey exemplifies the transformative power of education, mentorship, and corporate responsibility in shaping a brighter future for individuals and communities alike,” he said.