‘We need to ensure as much of the oil money is spent in Guyana’ – Min. Gaskin
– businesses need to build on local capacity
– local content not only about oil and gas sector
– oil and gas sector as a catalyst for developing other sectors
– entrepreneurs urged to ensure produce/services meet international standards
– several small businesses to participate in St. Vincent Expo
DPI, Guyana, Thursday, September 27, 2018
Minister of Business, Dominic Gaskin said companies need to build local capacity in order to maximise the value of local content from oil and gas activities. The minister was at the time addressing the close-out ceremony of the Micro and Small Enterprise Development (MSED) programme.
Minister Gaskin said he recently met with members of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) to discuss local content and concerns of the private sector on their ability to compete with foreign companies for contracts within the oil and gas sector.
He said while many valid concerns were raised at the meeting more needs to be done to ensure local businesses take full advantage of the oil and gas benefits.
“In order to earn billions of dollars, billions must be spent. We need to ensure as much of the money is spent in Guyana… We will not get half of it or see half of it being spent in Guyana, but in areas where we have a fighting chance, we must put up a good fight… We need to meet the stringent requirements of large international operators and be able to compete against established suppliers.”
Minister Gaskin further stated that a local content policy will only be effective if there is local capacity as well as businesses in all sectors.
“In a growing economy, all sectors are impacted, the discussion about local content is not only about oil and gas, it is about using the oil and gas sector as a catalyst for developing other divisions and for standards across all sectors.”
As such, he urged small business owners to ensure their produce/services meet the international standards “so they can price products and services competitively.”
The minister reminded the Small Business Bureau (SBB) of its role in assisting capacity building within the small business sector in ensuring small businesses are internationally competitive and export ready.
Over the past week, eight small businesses benefitting from SBB’s access to finance programmes participated in Guyana’s first ever business-to-business exhibition (GuyTIE). The products and services of the businesses were said to be well received by a number of international investors. Some of the export-ready small businesses were invited to participate in Everything Vincy Plus Expo in St. Vincent in October.
Crystal Stoll.
Image: Giovanni Gajie.