ExxonMobil’s Centre for Local Business Development (CLBD) in Guyana on Monday met with residents and members of the Berbice business community at the Berbice Chamber of Commerce in New Amsterdam.
This meeting follows a series of similar meetings with business organisations in Georgetown, which included the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA), Private Sector Commission (PSC) and the Guyana Oil and Gas Association (GOGA).
Patrick Henry, Project Director at CLBD, gave those in attendance an overview of the centre’s role in helping to develop the country’s local content capacity. He highlighted the Centre’s vendor registration portal and encouraged those in attendance to register their businesses.
Responding to a question from one of the residents who expressed concern that Berbicians may be overlooked for business opportunities based on their location and distance from the capital city, Henry explained that the determining factors for securing supply contracts are the same for all potential suppliers.
“The supply chain for the oil and gas sector is global…what the industry needs is price, efficiency, delivery time and competitiveness, so you are competing with people in Guyana for the local supply based on the same metrics. Everybody gets the chance to compete, you have to make your business competitive,” Henry said.
This was the first outreach by the Centre outside of Georgetown. Henry said that this was the first step in reaching businesses out of the capital city and more similar outreaches will follow.
The President of the Berbice Chamber of Commerce and Development Association, Ryan Alexander, welcomed the presentation and visit by CLBD, noting that it demonstrates that opportunities are available to businesses out the capital city of Georgetown.
