SBM Offshore Guyana hosted its ‘Let’s Talk Local Content’ Seminar at the Guyana Energy Conference and Supply Chain Expo on February 22, held at the Guyana Marriott Hotel. The seminar saw the participation of over 200 representatives from local vendors and organisations who were engaged in discussions about the company’s procurement process, key vendor requirements, compliance guidelines, and local content initiatives.
The activity aligned with the company’s objective of building the capacity of businesses to provide services to the oil and gas sector, and follows several similar routine activities including participation in the Centre for Local Business Development’s Community Business Talks, Supplier Forum 2022, and the company’s Vendor and Compliance Days.
In his opening remarks, SBM Offshore Guyana’s Local Content Officer, Garri Fraser said, “As we navigate through the upward trajectory of the global energy landscape, the role of local content has never been more critical. SBM Offshore, as a leader in floating production solutions, remains steadfast in our sustainable and efficient energy production.”
In speaking to the criticality of local content in propelling Guyana’s growing economy, and the role that SBM Offshore Guyana plays, Senior Petroleum Coordinator at the Ministry of Natural Resources, Bobby Gossai expressed, “We wanted to see economic growth and economic development. We wanted to see investments and investments back into the economy, and SBM [Offshore] is a partner in the development of local content in Guyana, SBM [Offshore] understands local content and its impact.”
Director of the Local Content Secretariat, Dr. Martin Pertab in his remarks underscored the role of the secretariat in ensuring that Guyanese benefit from the industry.
In a comprehensive panel discussion titled “Synergies in the SBM Offshore Ecosystem – Building Capacity, Workforce, Supply Chain, and Partnerships for Success in the Guyana Market,” SBM Offshore’s key stakeholders emphasised the pivotal role of collaboration in cultivating robust business relations. The discussion shed light on the strategic investments made in capacity-building and training, underscoring their significance in driving forward local content initiatives.
The company works closely with various groups, like Non-Governmental Organisation, the National Coordinating Coalition (NCC), Guyanese Achieving Together Enterprises (GATE), and the Guyana Oil and Gas Support Services Incorporated (GOGSSI). Representatives from each group, including Miss Simone Sills from NCC, Clinton Urling from GATE, and Nicholas Deygoo-Boyer from GOGSSI, shared insights on how their partnerships with SBM Offshore Guyana have helped their organizations grow and succeed. They talked about the ongoing support from SBM Offshore that has played a crucial role in advancing the work they do.
Local content is a key pillar in SBM Offshore Guyana’s integration into Guyana, and the company remains committed to its efforts to ensure that Guyanese benefit from its operations locally, and are guided in providing sustained services to the oil and gas industry.
