Guyana won't become next Dubai without foreign expertise, development of entrepreneurial talent – Int’l Advisor | OilNOW (2024)

By unlocking significant oil resources in the ExxonMobil-operated Stabroek Block, one consultant after another has often said Guyana is poised to become the next Qatar or Dubai of the region. But such a promising future cannot come to pass if Guyana does not devise a strategy to enlist the help of foreign experts while developing its own entrepreneurial talent, says David Lewis,a Fellow of the Caribbean Policy Consortium.

The VicePresident of Manchester Trade Ltd, an international business advisory firm working on all Caribbean trade, investment, and economic integration agreements from the 1984 Caribbean Basin Initiative, shared the foregoing perspective during a recent panel discussion on Guyana’s Local Content law.

Creating a Diaspora ministry, allowing immigration from CARICOM could serve Guyana well – IMF | OilNOW

Lewis said the sheer size and transformative potential of Guyana’s oil wealth is simply phenomenal. He stressed however that human resources will be key to the new oil producer’s success, though the country’s population of roughly 800,000 citizens combined with those in the Diaspora would be less than 1.5 million people.

The international advisor said the absence of key human resources in the right numbers means Guyana will have to rely on help from other nations. He said this approach should be welcomed since it is the model that was used by Qatar and Dubai to build first-class economies.

Lewis said, “Many people see Guyana as the next Qatar or Dubai, but we all need to remember that both nations have 10 foreigners for every national, and that is how they developed not just in energy but in being service hubs… There is no way, no matter how much a government plans, that that is going to happen for Guyana only with Guyanese… We ain’t got enough Guyanese for that.”

Guyana enters top 100 per capita economies | OilNOW

Additionally, he said it is critical that the government starts to think and act quickly on the development of entrepreneurial talent in Guyana. He said local content should focus on not only generating top-notch employees but CEOs too.

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Guyana won't become next Dubai without foreign expertise, development of entrepreneurial talent – Int’l Advisor | OilNOW (2024)

FAQs

Guyana won't become next Dubai without foreign expertise, development of entrepreneurial talent – Int’l Advisor | OilNOW? ›

Guyana won't become next Dubai without foreign expertise, development of entrepreneurial talent – Int'l Advisor. By unlocking significant oil resources in the ExxonMobil-operated Stabroek Block, one consultant after another has often said Guyana is poised to become the next Qatar or Dubai of the region.

Is Guyana rich now? ›

The 2015 oil discovery made Guyana the world's fastest-growing economy, recording the world's highest real GDP growth rate in 2022 and 2023. The story is different across Guyana's border.

Is it safe to invest in Guyana? ›

The government's commitment to creating a business-friendly environment, coupled with strategic investment opportunities in areas like agriculture, conservation and manufacturing, positions Guyana as an attractive destination for foreign investors seeking to capitalize on the country's expanding economic landscape and ...

Does Guyana have oil in it? ›

Guyana has emerged as the world's fastest-growing new oil province in a decade with discoveries of more than 11 billion barrels of oil and gas by Exxon and its partners Hess Corp (HES. N) , opens new tab and CNOOC Ltd.

How to invest in Guyana oil? ›

Investors seeking to participate in Guyana's oil and gas sector are encouraged to register with both the Local Content Secretariat and the Center for Local Content and Development, which has a supplier registration and serves the oil and gas sector in addition to the Secretariat.

Who is richer Trinidad or Guyana? ›

Guyana is one of the poorest countries in South America; annually an individual is said to make as little as $4,000 USD. "The economy of Trinidad and Tobago is the wealthiest in the Caribbean and the third-richest by GDP per capita in the Americas.

Why is Guyana so rich? ›

Guyana, oil wealth and the resource curse : The Indicator from Planet Money In 2015, Guyana changed forever when ExxonMobil discovered major oil deposits off its coast. The impoverished South American country known for its thick rainforest was suddenly on course to sudden wealth.

What to avoid in Guyana? ›

Avoid walking alone around Georgetown, even in the main areas, and do not walk anywhere at night. Foreign visitors have been assaulted in Georgetown's botanical gardens. If possible, go with an organised group and avoid taking valuables.

Is Guyana wealthy or poor? ›

Is Guyana a poor country? Not really. They have a GDP (PPP) per capita of $23,358, making them the 63rd richest country in the world and the third richest in South America. They are richer than Argentina and nobody considers Argentina a poor country.

What is the future of Guyana? ›

Guyana's economy is projected to grow by 37 percent in 2023 alongside a 6.6 percent inflation rate, making it one of the fastest growing economies in the world.

Who owns the oil in Guyana? ›

Bluefin joins the more than 30 oil discoveries in the Stabroek block since 2015, Exxon added. Exxon has a 45% stake in Guyana's oil project and is the operator, while partners Hess Corp. and Cnooc Ltd. have joint stakes.

What does Guyana produce the most of? ›

Cash crops are mainly sugarcane and rice but also include coffee and cacao (the source of cocoa beans).

What is the largest oil company in Guyana? ›

ExxonMobil Guyana is the first and largest oil producer in Guyana, and is the operator of the Stabroek, Canje and Kaieteur Blocks offshore.

Is Guyana going to be the richest country in the world? ›

In 2015, Exxon Mobil discovered a massive oil reserve off the coast of Guyana. Now, one of South America's poorest countries has become the fastest-growing economy on Earth. “It's speculated that Guyana would become the richest country per capita because of this oil,” Kiana Wilburg says.

How rich is Guyana with oil? ›

New wells pump out 645,000 barrels everyday, which resulted in $1.6 billion in revenue for Guyana's government in 2023. The nation's economy quadrupled in size over the last five years, going from one of the lowest performing in the region to the fastest growing in the world for two years straight.

What is the poverty rate in Guyana? ›

Guyana has experienced a decline in poverty over the past decade from 60.9 percent in 2006 to 48.4 percent in 2019, using a poverty line of US$5.50 per day in 2011 PPP. While the oil and non-oil economy has grown enormously since 2020, recent data to monitor progress in poverty reduction is not available.

How strong is Guyana economy? ›

The Guyanese economy has tripled in size since the start of oil extraction (end-2019), from one of the lowest GDP per capita in Latin America and the Caribbean in the early nineties. Oil production is ramping up rapidly, supporting the highest real GDP growth in the world in 2022 (62.3 percent).

Is Guyana more developed or less developed? ›

During the period under evaluation, Guyana has graduated from the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries status and has now become a lower-middle income country. Despite progress made, Guyana continues to face challenges of out-migration of educated people, poverty and uneven levels of human development among its people.

What is the biggest problem in Guyana? ›

Systemic Racial or Ethnic Violence and Discrimination

The political party system is overwhelmingly race-based, with Indo-Guyanese forming most of the government and Afro-Guyanese forming the majority of the opposition as well as the civil service.

Is Guyana up and coming? ›

Guyana's economy is expected to grow 34.3% in 2024, exceeding growth of 33% in 2023, as an Exxon Mobil Corp. -led consortium ramps up offshore oil production, according to Guyana's finance minister Ashni K.

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