More local companies are registering on the Centre for Local Business Development’s Supplier Registration Portal and benefitting from training and capacity building being provided by the Centre.
“To date, over 2900 Guyanese companies have registered on the Centre’s Supplier Registration Portal and taking advantage of these programmes,” Director at the Centre, Dr. Natasha Gaskin-Peters said.
The increase in the number of registered businesses has been a trend from inception. According to the Director, the Centre has seen tremendous growth in registration over the years moving from 519 companies at the end of 2017 to the more than 2900 companies at present. The Guyanese businesses are offering a wide range of services to the oil and gas industry, including; accounting, legal services, consultancy, fabrication, I.T, and catering among numerous others.
“Since the establishment of the Centre for Local Business Development in July 2017, Guyanese companies have benefitted immensely from education and mentorship programmes in Oil and Gas, Procurement, HSSE and Quality management,” the Director added.
She noted that from the more than 2900 local companies, over 3700 persons from 1500 businesses have benefited from the Centre’s training with 14 companies completing the ISO 9001 programme and 9 being certified and gaining international recognition. They expect these figures to increase this year.
Recently, the Centre signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the American Petroleum Institute (API), which would see local ISO 9001 certified businesses being able to attain a higher, globally recognised certification.
According to Gaskin-Peters, “The Centre’s MOU with API continues to signal its intention to advance the technical capacity of local firms and the Centre will also continue to work with commercial banks and the regulator on expanding access to finance to local companies.”
