GUYANA’S Local Content Act facilitates a wave of entrepreneurship, with local businesses stepping up to support the oil and gas industry. This legislation was introduced to the National Assembly in December 2021 and prioritised Guyanese companies in 40 key service areas, benefitting both new ventures and long-established firms. These areas include fabrication, electrical works, housekeeping, and janitorial services to name a few. To this end, Guyanese enterprises are now thriving by providing essential services to the sector.

This surge in opportunity, supported by the ongoing efforts by oil and gas companies to support local capacity development, has seen many local entrepreneurs rise to the challenge, acquiring the necessary training and certifications to meet the industry’s demands.

Among the success stories is Chung’s Global Incorporated, a general construction and real estate company led by Keisha Chung. With nearly two decades of experience, the company has recently expanded its clientele to include major players in the oil and gas sector, marking a significant milestone in its growth. Chung’s Global benefitted from the HSSE Mentorship Programme, Introduction to Oil and Gas and Gas-to-Energy, Project Management, and AccelerateHer through the Centre for Local Business Development.

Seaj Eco-clean Services, a janitorial business led by entrepreneur Simone Forde, has also made impressive strides in the sector. “We provide janitorial services which are environmentally friendly, so we produce healthier homes and healthier workspaces,” Forde explained, highlighting the unique value her company brings to the industry.

Zeco Group of Services, another standout, is a welding and fabrication company founded by Zakir Hack. Hack’s journey began humbly—riding a bicycle and fixing old gates and fences. Today, his company is a major contractor for international firms in the oil and gas sector. Zeco Group has been entrusted with fabricating fixtures for the ONE GUYANA Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel and was also contracted to provide fabrications for the Errea Wittu FPSO.

Reflecting on his company’s achievements, Hack remarked, “For me, it’s like winning the jackpot, or it’s like bullseye—all the hard work you put in, and effort, you get to start working on the FPSO, and that was a milestone for Zeco Group of Services.”

Another rising business is Guyana Electric, which provides electrical construction services from design to build-out phases for clients across various sectors, including residential, commercial, industrial, marine, hospitality, and healthcare. The company’s unwavering focus on safety has facilitated its expansion into the oil and gas sector. Michelle Howard, co-owner of Guyana Electric, attributes their success to rigorous international training and certification.

“Primarily because we are internationally trained, certified, and accredited, our skills and the work that we have put in to become certified and accredited are being utilised by those seeking out companies such as ourselves, who take safety to another level,” Howard shared.

Established in 2011, before the oil boom, Guyana Logistics and Support Services has steadily grown its capacity and now employs over 300 staff members. The company offers a comprehensive suite of services to multinational businesses operating in Guyana, including equipment rental, procurement, recruitment services, customs brokerage, relocation and domestic support, and office and residential rentals.

These are just a few examples of the hundreds of Guyanese businesses capitalising on the growing opportunities now emerging due to the oil and gas sector. As the industry expands, more local entrepreneurs are seizing the chance for economic advancement, building enterprises that create jobs and contribute to the nation’s economic growth.

As of mid-2024, oil companies have spent an impressive US$314 million on local services, representing 54 percent of the projected estimate for the year.