Offshore Technology Conference: Around the World Series President Smith encourages foreign investors to partner with Guyanese
-Praises MSMEs and entrepreneurial capacity of locals
As the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) delegation to the Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) sought out opportunities during the event in Houston, Texas, President of the GCCI, Mrs. Kathy Smith took to the stage during the ‘Around the World Series’ on May 5 to encourage foreign investors to partner with Guyanese businesses.
Speaking at the event, Mrs. Smith praised the capabilities of Guyanese entrepreneurs, particularly Micro, Small, and Medium-sized Enterprises. “Pre-oil, we have always been a highly educated people….We have always had the opportunity to be highly-educated individuals…when oil came onboard, it put us in a very unique position because a lot of us were academics. We went after business subjects, the education programmes and such, so it was easy for us to retool, re-skill, and re-train ourselves into the oil and gas sector,” she proudly stated. The emerging opportunities, she added, prompted an increase in entrepreneurship in the country.
She praised the capabilities of Guyanese businesses, particularly the GCCI’s membership. “The delegation that I brought to Houston, I did not bring them for show…we want to go back with business,” she stated candidly. To further garner interest, she provided an overview of Guyana’s economic growth, investment landscape, and investment opportunities—highlighting the transformation that the country has undergone over the last decade.
The GCCI has fielded the largest ever local delegation to OTC 2026, which began on May 4 at the NRG Centre in Houston, Texas. This event is world’s premier event where energy professionals gather to share ideas, drive innovation, and advance the technical and scientific knowledge needed to responsibly develop offshore resources.
