With an expanded focus and already a premier event in the region, the third edition of the Guyana Energy Conference and Supply Chain Expo will attract participation, at the highest level, from more than 21 countries and will see 19 sectors – outside of the energy sector – involved.
Billed for the Guyana Marriott Hotel from February 19 – 22, 2024, this conference and expo will be the largest to date and to support this assertion, Chief Executive Officer Kurt Baboolall disclosed during a press conference on Monday, that over 200 exhibitors are already on board.
The conference and expo carries as part of its official name “supply chain” and Baboolall explained that not just the energy and oil and gas sectors will have a space at the highly anticipated event but it has opened up several opportunities for Guyana’s story of “Fueling Transformation and Modernisation” to be appropriately told and put on display.
He believes this theme is truly reflective of the remarkable growth of the Guyanese economy over the last three years and said all large and small businesses, entrepreneurs and families are welcome to attend and participate.
“There is no singular meaning to the theme but from a macro lens, it shows how income from energy resources is supporting other developments and other sectors and transforming and modernising it.
“You look and you see the new highways, the new modern hospitals, schools… and the theme connects to other industries… and how other sectors co-relate,” Baboolall noted.
The story of growth also expands to sustainability and diversification and to add value to this, the conference will be addressed by several dignitaries and heads of government, headlined by President Dr. Irfaan Ali and Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, the Prime Minister of Qatar.
Other world leaders to attend include the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Dr Keith Rowley; the Prime Minister of The Bahamas, Philip Davis; the Prime Minister of Barbados Mia Mottley, the President of Suriname Chandrikapersad Santokhi along with serving ministers and former presidents.
“We will discuss 19 topics over the four days… some interesting ones: Trends Challenges and Best Practices; Building Resilient Supply Chain in the Face of Disruptions; Growth and Collaboration Strategies for Emerging Economies and Investing in Guyana,” Baboolall explained.
There is strong government support for the conference in a coordinated push to make the conference the leading energy event in the hemisphere and to demonstrate this, Baboolall was joined at the press conference by the Minister of Natural Resources Vickram Bharrat and the country’s Chief Investment Officer and Agency Head for the Guyana Office for Investment, Dr. Peter Ramsaroop.
Also present was the Chairman of the Private Sector Commission, Komal Singh.
“We will continue to work together, government and the committee to make this expo the premier expo in this hemisphere.
“I think already we are on our way to achieve that and we are now competing with some big ones in Texas but I think we can rival them,” Bharrat boasted.
He said Guyana is one of two hotspots for oil and gas investment in the world right now, the other being Namibia in Africa but noted that the development of Guyana’s industry is advanced.
By the start of the conference, Guyana’s oil production will be at 600, 000 barrels per day up from about 380, 000 barrels when the last conference was hosted.
“A lot has happened from the last conference to this one… this conference is also important for bringing more opportunities to Guyana,” the Natural Resources Minister added.
His sentiments were backed up by the other members of the head table.
“These folks are here looking to make money… but the private sector needs to understand that they need to step up their game also… demonstrate our capacity and capability,” Dr Ramsaroop added.
Meanwhile, the PSC Chairman said, “Let’s capitalize on this opportunity to meet the right people and partner with the right people… they [international investors] can capitalize on the growth demand in the manufacturing sector but also a robust logistics hub is important.”
The Guyana Energy Conference and Supply Chain Expo is poised to be a landmark event, facilitating discussions that will shape the trajectory of the energy sector in Guyana and beyond.
