Director of the Local Content Secretariat, Michael Munroe, has called on local companies to develop stronger business models which would effectively compete in Guyana’s ever expanding Oil and Gas Industry.

Delivering the keynote address at the Guyana Supplier Forum 2026 at the Marriott Hotel on Wednesday, Mr. Munroe said securing contracts is simply not enough to survive in the Oil and Gas Industry.

“Readiness means investing before you win. Too many businesses wait for the contract before they build the capability. In this industry, it works the other way around. The certifications, the HSSE management system, the audited accounts, the trained crew and the equipment usually have to be in place before the bid, not after the award. That is a real risk, and it is exactly why early visibility of the pipeline matters. When a contractor tells you today what it will need in 2027, you have time to invest with confidence,” the Local Content Secretariat Director said.

He also made a case for greater collaboration among local businesses, explaining that collaboration is one of the fastest ways to scale and expand.

“Collaboration is one of the fastest ways to scale. Competition strengthens capability, but collaboration creates scale. The Secretariat recently facilitated a US$10.1 million offshore catering arrangement that brought Guyanese firms together to win work none could have secured alone. We are also supporting the development of fabrication capability at the Vreed-en-Hoop Shorebase. Consortia, joint ventures and supplier alliances let you share expertise, resources and risk. Treat partnership as a growth strategy, not a last resort,” Munroe reasoned.

The Guyana Supplier Forum, held under the theme, “From Capability to Growth: Building Guyanese Businesses for Long-Term Success”, was hosted by the Centre for Local Business Development, in collaboration with ExxonMobil Guyana, and its prime contractors.

Executive Director of the Centre for Local Business Development, Parmanan Chandranauth said the forum brought together local businesses, industry representatives and key stakeholders to explore and understand better the opportunities within Guyana’s growing oil and gas sector.

“This programme provides an important opportunity to share information, procurement opportunities, supply requirements, and industry expectations while strengthening engagements between local suppliers and companies operating in the Energy Sector,” Chandranauth said.

He also said access to opportunities for Guyanese businesses is important, but warned that opportunities alone are not enough. Like Munroe, he urged businesses to build their capacity to compete within the industry, and consistently deliver products and services that meet international standards.

Meanwhile, ExxonMobil’s Socioeconomic Manager, Lorna Carlson said since first oil, the conversation has shifted. She explained that it is no longer about having access to opportunities within the industry, but rather about growth and development within the industry among local suppliers.

“The impacts are way beyond production. Every major project, requires people, skills, services, infrastructure, technology, logistics, transportation, accommodation, environmental expertise, and countless other forms of goods and services. Development creates new demand, creates opportunities for businesses willing to invest, innovate and grow. And that’s where the Local Content story really begins,” Carlson said.

The Supplier Forum was designed to provide Guyanese businesses with greater insight into the procurement processes, upcoming contracting opportunities and the standards and capabilities required to successfully engage with the industry.

Those present were given an overview of procurement in the Oil and Gas Industry as well as procurement insights for 2027 from ExxonMobil and several of its prime contractors.

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