HOUSTON, TEXAS – President of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Kathy Smith, said Guyanese companies are using the Guyana booth at the Offshore Technology Conference to pursue business opportunities across multiple sectors as the country draws increased attention from investors.
The conference runs May 4 to 7 in Houston and brings together global energy stakeholders for business engagement and partnerships, with Guyana fielding a delegation approaching 100 businesses this year.
Speaking at the opening of the Guyana booth, Smith said the private sector turnout reflects a deliberate effort to expand participation beyond oil and gas. She said the booth was structured to support a wide range of business interactions.
“Persons might believe that coming to…OTC, it’s oil and gas sector businesses only, but what we have done at the GCCI, we brought the entire ecosystem,” Smith said.
She explained that companies from sectors such as tourism, finance and construction are engaging alongside energy service providers, aligning with a broader trend of participation from traditional industries noted ahead of the event.
“So when any visitor comes to this booth and wants to collaborate…the financing conversation can take place. If they want to take their team down to spend some time in Guyana, the Marriott Hotel can accommodate them, if they want to invest in a shore base, they can have those conversations also.”
She said smaller businesses are also actively participating, even without formal exhibition space, adding “You know what? I might not be able to sponsor and to have a kiosk, but I can come as an individual and bring my literature, bring my business card, my brochures, my flyers.”
Smith said these participants are directly engaging potential partners at the event. She said the level of participation reflects how local content is being applied by the private sector.
“This is what the local content legislation looks like. It’s not just about policy, but it’s about people deciding. You know what? We gotta connect. We gotta go get the business. We gotta bring investment to our country so that our country can do better,” Smith said.
