The organiser of the second Guyana International Petroleum Exhibition (GIPEX) yesterday stated that it is registered here and is working with the local private sector to ensure the event bring maximum benefits for Guyanese and the country.
“What we are seeing is a lot of misinformation out there. We are working closely with the private sector,” Managing Director of Valiant Business Media Shariq Abdulhai told a press conference at the Marriott Hotel, as preparations continue for the event, which is scheduled for November 20th to November 22nd.
“We’re working closely with the GCCI (George-town Chamber of Commerce and Industry) and we are looking at subsidising some rates for the local companies, especially the startups who want to come in and see how they can be part of this journey,” he added.
Present at the press conference also were Head of the Department of Energy (DoE), Dr. Mark Bynoe and GCCI Executive Director Richard Rambarran.
Questions have been raised as to why the UK-based Valiant has been entrusted with organising the conference. While it organised the first GIPEX, the feeling in some quarters here is that the government itself, GO-Invest or local organisations should have been able to manage this considering their growing interaction with oil companies and related businesses.
It still has not been made clear whether the government has tendered for the convening of the conference and whether Valiant had won in a competitive process.
While Valiant has said that no taxpayers’ money will be utilised in the hosting of the conference, it is unclear what exactly is the input of the government here and the DoE.
GIPEX’s representative yesterday explained that as part of the arrangement for the hosting of the event, the entity must use local companies, saying that the focus is “on hiring local Guyanese companies”.
“The simple example is, if we were taking pens or stationery for the event, we are not allowed to bring it in. What that did is help us to work with companies like Sagacity and a number of other companies in transportation, event branding, marketing …,” Abdulhai said.
He also said that the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) receives the necessary taxes as is required by law of all local companies. And if any of the companies at the exhibition pay for services here in Guyana “we have to go through the local tax system which is here,” he stressed.
He contended that the public had been fed misinformation. It is to this end he pointed to the company’s website and asked that the public visit it to see firsthand what to expect and the objectives of hosting the event.
On Monday, following a declaration by Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo that the PPP was considering boycotting the conference over government sponsorship, Valiant issued a statement seeking to clarify misconceptions.
The statement said that no taxpayers’ money will be used for the event and that rates for participating companies which are 100% Guyanese are subsidized.
The statement said that Valiant Business Media has also been engaging the local private sector with a view to maximising its participation in the event.
The statement also said that a team of “100% Guyanese-owned companies continue to be engaged for the provision of services for GIPEX. These services include event planning, equipment rental, communications and marketing, branding and décor, multi-media services, accommodation, logistics and security”.
The statement asserted that GIPEX remains the largest oil and gas conference and exhibition in Guyana.
“With the participation of more than 600 delegates and well over 175 companies in 2018, GIPEX 2019 is poised to attract and engage the biggest players in the oil and gas industry as the country moves closer to first oil”, it said in its statement.
With five joint ventures formed in the first two days of the conference last year, Valiant is hoping that number is increased this year.
Guyana’s Department of Energy head also underscored the importance of the conference for locals.
“At the department we are particularly enthused. This is a fighting time and as we continue to seek foreign direct investment opportunities and further economic growth of the country…. GIPEX remains the marquee event for the oil and gas sector, in terms of engaging with members of the Private Sector, establishing partnerships, alliances, associations and joint ventures,” Bynoe said.
