President of the Guyana Oil and Gas Energy Chamber (GOGEC), Manniram Prashad, is leading an 18-member Guyanese delegation to Gastech 2026 in Bangkok, Thailand, positioning Guyana’s private sector to engage directly with leading energy companies, investors, technology providers and policymakers worldwide.
Gastech 2026, held from 14 to 17 September at the Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Centre (BITEC), is one of the most significant global gatherings focused on natural gas, liquefied natural gas (LNG), low-carbon solutions, electrification and emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence for the energy sector.
The event brings together participants from across the international energy value chain, including producers, project developers, financiers, governments, technology companies and infrastructure providers. Its programme focuses on issues such as energy security, investment, technological innovation, infrastructure development and the transition towards lower-carbon energy systems.
For Guyana, participation in Gastech comes at a critical moment in the country’s economic transformation, as the rapid expansion of the oil and gas sector creates opportunities for local businesses to forge new partnerships, strengthen technical capacity and become more integrated into international energy supply chains.
The 18-member GOGEC delegation is expected to use the platform to explore business relationships and to gain exposure to international technologies and practices that could support Guyana’s developing energy industry.
Manniram Prashad’s participation also reflects his broader role in promoting greater local involvement in Guyana’s oil and gas sector.
GOGEC was established in 2017, following the oil and gas industry’s emergence as a major component of Guyana’s economy. Prashad, who was instrumental in founding the Chamber, has led efforts to bring local businesses and industry stakeholders together to pursue opportunities created by the sector.
Under his leadership, GOGEC has focused on strengthening local participation, promoting knowledge transfer, facilitating business opportunities, and ensuring Guyanese companies are better positioned to benefit from the country’s growing energy economy.
The Chamber has also advocated stronger local content participation and greater opportunities for Guyanese businesses and professionals. Its mandate includes promoting commerce in the energy sector, supporting economic growth, and encouraging trade, investment, and knowledge transfer among local and international stakeholders.
Prashad’s private-sector background and prior public-sector experience have also shaped his role as an intermediary among businesses, policymakers, and other stakeholders in the rapidly evolving industry. According to GOGEC’s published leadership information, he previously served as Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce and as Chairman of the Private Sector Commission.
More recently, Prashad has continued to emphasise the need to use Guyana’s petroleum resources responsibly and to direct the sector’s benefits towards broader economic transformation. In its response to Budget 2026, GOGEC, under his leadership, highlighted energy transformation, industrial expansion, competitiveness, and opportunities for private-sector growth as key elements of Guyana’s development strategy.
His presence at Gastech therefore extends beyond participation in a major international conference. It also provides an opportunity to place Guyana’s private-sector interests in a global conversation about the future of energy and to build relationships with companies and investors at the forefront of the industry.
The United States Embassy in Guyana has also highlighted the value of participating in Gastech, noting that Guyanese participants can use the event to build partnerships with US and international companies and gain insight into technologies shaping the future of energy.
As Guyana emerges as one of the world’s fastest-growing oil-producing economies, engaging local business leaders at international platforms such as Gastech could help convert the country’s expanding energy wealth into broader opportunities for Guyanese companies.
For GOGEC and its 18-member delegation, the Bangkok gathering offers an opportunity to learn, network, and identify potential partnerships to support the continued development of Guyana’s oil, gas, and wider energy ecosystem.