The Centre for Local Business Development (CLBD) has trained more than 10,000 Guyanese over the past five years as part of efforts to strengthen the country’s supplier base and improve competitiveness in the oil and gas sector.
The Centre told OilNOW that its programs focus on awareness and capacity-building sessions designed to help businesses close operational gaps and align with international standards.
“During the past five years, more than 10,210 individuals representing 7,463 businesses have participated in training covering topics such as oil and gas fundamentals, health and safety, project management, procurement, and business development,” CLBD stated in a June 29 response to questions posed.
CLBD is a Guyana-based organization that provides training, mentoring, and business support services to strengthen local participation in the energy sector. Its programs include oil and gas fundamentals, HSSE (health, safety, security and environment), project management, financial management, supply chain management, and business development.
With increased training numbers, the Centre said it has seen more firms entering the oil and gas supply chain.
“While the Centre does not currently disaggregate participants based on whether their businesses are directly engaged in the oil and gas sector or supporting industries, it has observed a steady increase in local businesses entering the supply chain and diversifying their operations to serve this sector and others due to Guyana’s current growth rate,” CLBD relayed to OilNOW.
ExxonMobil local content payments hit US$3.6B overall; US$700M in 2025 alone – Routledge | OilNOW
The organization also reported an increase in participation from women-owned and women-led businesses across multiple sectors. These include “catering and hospitality, logistics and transportation, health, safety, security and environment services, administrative support, professional services such as accounting and legal work, training and workforce development, and construction-related services.”
Established in 2017, CLBD works with major operators and contractors in Guyana’s offshore sector, including ExxonMobil Guyana, SBM Offshore, and CNOOC, alongside other international partners. The Centre’s training and capacity-building programs are aimed at helping local businesses align with Guyana’s local content requirements, improve compliance readiness, and position themselves to access opportunities with oil and gas companies.
