ExxonMobil said in a statement commemorating International Women’s Day on Tuesday that 800 women are supporting its activities in Guyana. The U.S. oil major has found over 10 billion barrels of oil equivalent in the South American country since 2015 and just started up its second phase of production activities at the offshore Stabroek Block.
Community Relations Manager at ExxonMobil Guyana, Suzanne De Abreu, lauded the progression of women in business despite the challenges of the two years, during the Government’s We Lift 2 Exhibition at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre on Saturday.
“It just reinforces what we already know – that women are resilient and today, as ExxonMobil Guyana partners with the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security to promote women businesses in Guyana, it’s clear to see that we are determined and driven to succeed. ExxonMobil Guyana recognizes and applauds the contributions of Women globally and, today especially, here in Guyana,” she said.
ExxonMobil said it appreciates the contributions women continue to make every day to the company and to wider society. Noting that this year’s IWD theme is #BreakTheBias, ExxonMobil said it is a goal every member of the company works towards.
“ExxonMobil Guyana will continue to encourage its female employees in every aspect of their development and provide equal opportunities for them to succeed,” the company said.
The company added that it is also committed to supporting women and girls in the wider community as it focuses on women’s empowerment through contributions and sponsorships, as part of its corporate social responsibility.
“ExxonMobil Guyana has been making community investments that provide empowerment opportunities to women through capacity building initiatives that are intended to have real and positive impacts in their lives and within households,” the company said.
It reminded that its WeLead 2019 programme was designed to tackle the lack of business development and training opportunities for women in Regions Two and Three.
“Not only do these programmes aim to provide knowledge and a deeper understanding of best practice, but they also seek to enhance motivation and self-awareness of the participants’ capability to contribute and lead in the business world,” Exxon pointed out.
In 2020, the company brought the Global Women in Management programme to Guyana which helped develop women’s leadership and managerial skills. The ExxonMobil Foundation also supported other recent programmes, including the Road to Growth and AccelerateHER, which provided training and tools to promote sustainable socioeconomic business practices.
