Guyana’s premier Energy Conference and Supply Chain Expo is gearing up for its fourth edition. It promises a range of engaging activities designed to highlight the nation’s socio-economic and cultural strengths to a global audience.
The event was officially launched on Monday at the Guyana Marriott Hotel in Kingston, Georgetown.
Themed ‘Connecting the dots: Integrating the future,’ the 2025 expo is expected to draw over 7,000 delegates, feature more than 180 booths, and host upwards of 70 prominent speakers at the Marriott Hotel from February 18-21, 2025.
This year’s expo introduces several new initiatives, including an energy run/walk and an essay competition organized in collaboration with the Ministry of Education.
In addition, a ‘Taste of Guyana’ event will be held in partnership with the Ministries of Culture, Youth and Sport, Tourism, Industry, and Commerce to offer delegates an authentic experience of Guyanese cuisine.
Another significant attraction is the conference village, which includes a farmer’s market and arts and crafts vendors. The conference will also feature an innovative digital experience through the Energy Conference Suite, complete with a dedicated app and website.
Speaking at the launch, Minister of Natural Resources Vickram Bharrat welcomed the diverse new elements of the event. He highlighted Guyana’s emergence as a role model among new oil-producing nations, noting that government policies have successfully expanded and incentivized all sectors of the economy.
“Today, when we launch our energy conference, it will be an energy conference and a supply chain expo. Because all these sectors are critical in building out the oil and gas sector in Guyana,” he emphasized.
Minister Bharrat also noted the significant growth in agriculture, tourism, construction, and other industries following the enactment of the 2021 Local Content Legislation.
“That was our government’s intention when we passed the Local Content Bill…Today, many local entrepreneurs and businesses are part of Guyana’s oil and gas sector. And when we were crafting our framework and the architecture…It was exactly to ensure that Guyanese play a part in the oil and gas sector,” the minister stated.
He urged participants to seize the opportunities presented by the high-profile conference.
Kiana Wilburg, the conference’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), outlined some key topics on the agenda, including a just energy transition, financing sustainable development initiatives, workforce development, building resilient supply chains, and promoting the advancement of women in energy.
“Besides the main four-day event, we will introduce parallel sessions that delve into technical and specialized topics relevant to industry professionals. These sessions will cover areas such as renewable energy integration, supply chain optimization, the application of AI to improve efficiency and resilience, and so much more,” she explained.
The conference will also invite delegates to participate in Mashramani Activities, reflecting the event’s goal of showcasing Guyana’s rich cultural heritage.
Dr. Peter Ramsaroop, Chief Investment Officer of the Guyana Office for Investment; Alistair Routledge, President of ExxonMobil Guyana; and Eldon Marks, CEO of V75 Inc., also delivered remarks.
