By Devina Samaroo
The inaugural Guyana International Petroleum Business Summit and Exhibition (GIPEX) 2018 was officially launched on Wednesday, January 17, 2018, at the Marriott Hotel in Kingston, Guyana.
This signature event, which is aimed at promoting the country’s petroleum sector, will be held from February 7-9.
Organisers say GIPEX presents investors with a great way to explore the huge potential of Guyana and its burgeoning petroleum sector.
The event aims to be a global initiative which will provide a networking platform for existing petroleum companies, service providers, equipment companies and investors through which interested parties will be informed about opportunities and developments in the oil and gas sector.
During the launching ceremony, Natural Resources Minister, Raphael Trotman said the event provides a great opportunity for local companies to partner with some of the major businesses in the industry.
“Bringing some of the world’s leading companies to meet local business interest and concerns is way better than taking Guyanese interests and business persons to different parts of the world. So we are providing a platform and opportunity for all of those who speak about local content and the desire to see more of it to actually shake hands and touch the Schlumberger and others who do this and have been doing this for the last ten and five decades,” Mr Trotman said.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Guyana Office of Investment (GO-INVEST), Owen Verwey provided an insight into activities the summit will feature.
“The very last day of the activity is opened for the public to see the opportunities at stake for us,” he stated.
Verwey said the event will also provide platforms for business-to-business meets to occur.
“Those who are going to be attending as a delegate will have the opportunity to book one-on-one meetings with other businesses who will be in attendance…and on the last day of the event, who hope to host a workshop session that focuses largely on partnership, joint ventures … so those who have something locally to offer and seek and offer those who are looking for local partnerships,” the CEO explained.
Rod Henson, the Country Manager of ExxonMobil, GIPEX’s Strategic Partner, underscored the importance of the event for Guyana.
“The GIPEX Event is really important in the industry to give us an opportunity to exchange ideas and, we talk about this community of oil and gas nations and companies and so these events give us an opportunity to network local companies to make contact with international companies,” Henson stated.
GIPEX is expected to attract hundreds of local and overseas participants.
The event will encompass three days of presentations, seminars and interactive exhibition focused on health, safety and environment, sustainable management the industry and incorporating Guyana’s Green initiative into its development.
Panel discussions will feature representatives from companies and entities such as ExxonMobil, CGX, Noble Drilling, Total SA, Eco Atlantic/Tullow, the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), Ministry of Natural Resources, GO-INVEST and others.
Valiant Business Media is working in collaboration with Go-Invest and, the Ministries of Business and Natural Resources in organizing what is expected to become the country’s premier annual oil and gas event.
