THE Local Content Summit has returned, bigger and better, with emphasis being placed on bolstering local businesses in Guyana’s rapidly-evolving oil and gas sector.
President Dr. Irfaan Ali will be the keynote speaker at the opening plenary, according to a press release.

Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat will be the featured speaker. Other speakers include Martin Pertab, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Local Content Secretariat; Minister within Ministry of Public Works Deodat Indar; Mrs. Abbigale Loncke-Watson, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of MBW Energy Support Services Inc; and Anita Ramprasad of Prestige Management Consultants.

Additional speakers include Phillip Rietema, ExxonMobil; Cassandra Jaikarran, Ocean Air Logistics; Sharlene Seegolam, SLB; Martin Cheong, SBM Offshore; Renatha Khan-Bovell, Nobel Corporation; Dr. Natasha Gaskin-Peters, CLBD; Donna Rickford, Supreme Laundroma; Khrishan Singh, GAICO; Kester Hutson, Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) and many more.

According to the release, there will be a focus on knowledge sharing for local businesses in Guyana to understand the benefits of becoming local-content certified, and how to identify and capitalise on available and upcoming opportunities.

The summit will be held under the theme, “Creating Value, Driving Economic Expansion” on April 16 at the Pegasus Suites and Corporate Centre, in partnership with the Local Content Secretariat through the Ministry of Natural Resources.

According to the release, the summit aims to discuss the current Local Content Policy and Certification process; Local Content for the Oil and Gas Sector as a driver for Economic Expansion; the role of Local Content in the Supply and Value Chain; local and international joint ventures, and bridging the capacity gap.

“The 2024 summit is a joint endeavour spearheaded by two locally-owned, women-led companies: MBWESSI and PMC. Together, they have meticulously curated a one-day session packed with valuable insights and networking opportunities after. The summit aims to bring together policymakers, regulatory and support agencies and organisations, educators, operators and sub-contractors, industry experts, vendors/suppliers, investors, and the local private sector among other stakeholders,” the release noted.

The Ministry of Natural Resources has fully endorsed the event.

“The ministry, via its Local Content Secretariat, recognises the vital importance of a conducive environment for local participation and development within Guyana’s petroleum sector. Further, as the unit legislatively empowered to monitor, implement and enforce local content in Guyanese have within that its promotion not only drives economic growth but also contributes significantly to sustainable expansion for local suppliers and the upskilling of Guyanese talent.”

It added, “Many forward-looking companies have invested in supporting this important forum as sponsors, including Sispro Inc. ExxonMobil, International SOS, Nobel, GBoat, Action Invest Caribbean (Who’s Who Magazine), MCCG Guyana, Tropic Construction Solutions, GAICO and Vistar Engineering and Contracting Services and the organizers extend their sincere thanks for the support, while assuring that there are more opportunities available for additional sponsors.”