THE 2025 Guyana Supplier Forum, held in late July, is the latest in a series of initiatives aimed at expanding the role of Guyanese businesses in the oil-and-gas sector.
Organised by the Centre for Local Business Development – an institution established by ExxonMobil Guyana to promote local content – the forum connected hundreds of local and international companies.
It was a networking opportunity that reflected a continued industry shift toward deliberate and sustained inclusion of Guyanese suppliers.
Since Guyana began producing oil in late 2019, foreign companies have operated in an environment where local content is encouraged and expected. That expectation has been formalised in law.
The Local Content Act, passed in 2021, requires oil companies and their contractors to meet minimum targets for using Guyanese suppliers across various categories of goods and services. These requirements are enforceable, and that has given greater certainty to Guyanese companies that they will be included.
Many Guyanese businesses entered this space with limited experience, capital, and technical knowledge compared to international competitors. To help, many of those international companies have made substantial investments in training and capacity building for Guyanese talent, and it has shown real results.
According to ExxonMobil Guyana, it and its prime contractors have spent more than US$2.5 billion with 2,000 unique Guyanese suppliers since 2015. This is a notable figure, not only because of its scale, but because it speaks to the depth of participation being cultivated in the local economy.
Many oil companies and their sub-contractors, including ExxonMobil, Saipem, CNOOC, and SBM Offshore, have worked to close knowledge gaps.
In addition to major events like the Supplier Forum, they host in-person and virtual meetings with vendors to explain procurement processes, clarify expectations, and prepare local firms to meet industry standards.
These engagements often target specific areas of service or procurement, allowing companies to provide more detailed guidance and support. They are part of a broader effort to streamline procurement systems and foster a more accessible supply chain.
One particular concern raised by Guyanese businesses in the past was the issue of slow payment. For smaller firms, delayed payments can pose a serious threat to their ability to operate. In response, ExxonMobil Guyana and other companies have worked with the government to address this problem. They successfully reduced payment timelines and made cash flow more predictable for local suppliers.
Another mechanism supporting this transition is the Social Performance Network, a collaboration between ExxonMobil Guyana and 11 of its prime contractors. It is designed to identify and share procurement opportunities with Guyanese businesses.
And, of course, the Centre for Local Business Development continues to serve as a central hub for training, mentoring, and certification.
Each of these initiatives, from spending commitments to forums and vendor workshops, supports a single reality: increased local participation. It is becoming embedded in the way the industry operates in Guyana. The focus has grown beyond meeting quotas, to building the capacity of local firms to compete and grow.

DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Guyana National Newspapers Limited.