Guyana shines at Offshore Technology Conference in Houston, Texas
─ OTC 2019 being held from May 6-9
─ large contingent of public and private sector representatives participating
─ foreign investors being sought
─ “A Guyana Evening of Information Sharing and Networking,” sponsored by ExxonMobil Guyana, is slated to be held on Wednesday
DPI, Guyana, Tuesday, May 7, 2019
Guyana is currently making waves as a participant in the largest oil and gas sector show in the world; the Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) 2019.
The country’s participation, in this major event, drives home the fact that Guyana is rapidly emerging as an oil and gas nation, and while the country’s experience in this area is lacking, foreign investors are keen to assist and lend their expertise in our development.
“We’re emerging as an oil and gas nation and we’ve had little or no experience in this area, the opportunity to come here is largely to bring businesses from Guyana, to get exposure for knowledge awareness and for a better understanding what happens in the industry, what is the value chain and who and who are the major players in the industry. After that, the next opportunity is for them to network with some of the businesses in the industry so they can open doors of opportunities that are there,” Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GO-Invest, Owen Verwey explained during an interview at the OTC.
As a result of a partnership between the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) and GO-Invest, over twenty businesses were given the opportunity to attend the conference to be able to network with foreign businesses and investors.
This effort has proven quite rewarding, according to the President of the GCCI, Nicholas Boyer. “Based on the traffic flow, I think the first day has been really successful. You have a lot of people talking, learning, networking, visiting our booth, and finding out a lot more about Guyana this new frontier for the oil industry and I think that the energy again has been extremely positive and we’re going to see a lot of partnerships start to happen… There’s a lot of interest in our market and what we’re able to do as a delegation that includes both government and private sector is answer questions of how to enter the Guyanese market, and I think that that is going to be the tipping point for firms who were on the fence.”
Prominent Attorney Nigel Hughes gave brief comments on the interest that Guyana has garnered at the opening ceremony. “Everybody that has come here, including the people that have built the topsides for the first Floating Production Storage and Offloading facility are extremely enthusiastic about Guyana. People are making plans based on our meetings here today to come down to Guyana, and I would say that we have generated a significant amount of interest in Guyana.”
With such a great interest being shown, “A Guyana Evening of Information Sharing and Networking,” sponsored by ExxonMobil Guyana, is slated to be held on Wednesday. Presentations will be made by GO-Invest, the Department of Energy, Guyana Geology and Mines Commission and GCCI.
The Guyana Evening is an unpaid invitation-only event sponsored by ExxonMobil Guyana as part of their local content development initiatives. Information shared by OilNOW, an online oil and gas news site, quoted Verwey as saying that “approximately 500 representatives from various international and local companies will be in attendance to meet with the Guyanese Delegation.”
The event will see participants from both the public and private sectors using the opportunity to network and develop relationships with key persons within the industry to attract investment primarily to Guyana’s Oil and Gas and Services sectors and establish and develop crucial partnerships.
The OTC’s flagship conference is held annually at NRG Park in Houston. OTC is sponsored by 13 industry organisations and societies, who work cooperatively to develop a technical program for energy professionals to meet to exchange ideas and opinions on advanced scientific and technical knowledge for offshore resources and environmental matters.
Nikosi Bruce.
Source: OilNOW and Ministry of Business.
Images: OilNOW.