BUSINESSES seeking Local Content Certificates will benefit from significantly faster and more predictable approval timelines beginning January 2026, as the Ministry of Natural Resources rolls out a structured processing system aimed at strengthening service delivery and improving the ease of doing business in Guyana.
The new framework implemented through the Local Content Secretariat sets clear turnaround periods for all classes of applicants.
According to a release form the ministry on Tuesday, the shift is part of the administration’s wider drive to modernise public services and eliminate long-standing delays that have affected business operations.
The secretariat made it clear that the revised approval periods will begin only when an applicant’s documentation is fully submitted, emphasising that the goal is to deliver consistency, transparency and a disciplined approach to certification.
In its statement, the ministry underscored that the improved model “ensures that processing periods are consistent, transparent, and aligned with the government’s commitment to a more responsive Public Service.”
An updated checklist of required documents will be posted on the petroleum.gov.gy website ahead of implementation, allowing companies to prepare complete submissions from the outset.
The announcement builds on three years of measurable gains under the Local Content Law. According to data released by the ministry, payment timelines once stretching beyond three months have already been cut from over 90 days down to 30, giving local suppliers faster access to cash flow and reducing financial strain.
Spending by oil companies on Guyanese businesses continues to climb steadily. In 2023, operators invested US$720 million in local goods, services and manpower, while preliminary figures indicate spending reached US$743 million in 2024, reflecting not only procurement and contracting, but also training, employment, and talent development.
More than 1,000 Guyanese businesses have now been awarded Local Content Certificates, illustrating the scale of local participation in the sector.
The business community has already endorsed the overhaul.
The Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), in a statement issued on Tuesday, said it “commends the Local Content Secretariat on the move to improve its processing time for local content certificates.”
The chamber noted that the initiative “focuses on efficiency, provides guided timelines and allows businesses to access this crucial document on a timely basis.”
The GCCI, which has held ongoing consultations with the secretariat on matters including transaction turnaround and updates to the Local Content Act Schedule of Services, said it expects the new approval regime to strengthen the overall business environment.
“The GCCI looks forward to continued dialogue with the LCS and the effective implementation of this decision, which is anticipated to improve the ease of doing business in Guyana,” the statement added.
The ministry is also preparing to digitise the process further. Alongside the Local Content App, launched earlier this year to connect suppliers with contractors and streamline procurement visibility, the secretariat will introduce a new online application portal in January.
This, officials say, is intended to “optimise efficiencies in the process” and reduce the need for in-person submissions as application volumes continue to rise.
The improved processing timelines, coupled with the expanded digital infrastructure, signal a major advance in the administration of local content and reinforces the People’s Progressive Party/Civic government’s broader policy posture, building a business climate that is faster, fairer and more responsive as Guyanese participation continues to deepen across the oil-and-gas supply chain.