Guyanese companies should stop believing they are too small to benefit from the country's booming oil and gas industry, according to Captain Gerald Gouveia Jr., who says local firms can compete for major energy opportunities if they work together through consortiums and strategic partnerships.
Returning to the helm of the Private Sector Commission (PSC), Captain Gerald Gouveia Jr. used the organization's Annual General Meeting on Friday to deliver a clear message to Guyanese businesses, telling them that the oil and gas sector remains within reach, but local companies must be prepared to collaborate if they want a larger share of the opportunities being created.
Addressing representatives from some of Guyana's leading companies and business organizations, Gouveia rejected the notion that local enterprises are inherently too small to participate in large-scale projects linked to the country's rapidly expanding energy industry.
"For too long, Guyanese companies have been told we're too small for oil and gas, too small for infrastructure, too small for tourism development, too small for agro-processing," he said. "The private sector has proven them wrong time and time again."
However, he acknowledged that some projects may be beyond the capacity of individual firms acting alone.
"In some cases, maybe we are a little too small, but that's why we need to come together," Gouveia said. "Five, ten, twenty companies may need to pool capital, resources, technical capacity, experience and relationships. That's how we compete at a global level."
His comments come as Guyana's oil and gas industry continues to attract billions of US dollars in investment, creating demand for services ranging from logistics and transportation to engineering, fabrication, construction and hospitality.
Gouveia argued that consortiums offer a practical pathway for local businesses to secure larger contracts and ensure that more Guyanese companies benefit from the country's energy wealth.
According to him, collaboration will be critical as government agencies continue to issue Expressions of Interest (EOIs) and tenders for major projects tied directly and indirectly to the petroleum sector.
"We have to stop seeing each other only as competitors," he said." Competition is important, but we also have to collaborate so we can win opportunities that would otherwise pass us by."
The PSC chairman said Guyana's larger companies have an important role to play in mentoring smaller businesses and helping them integrate into local supply chains supporting the oil and gas sector.
He noted that while international investors continue to show strong interest in Guyana, local businesses must position themselves to take advantage of partnerships, financing opportunities and technology transfers.
"The world is looking at Guyana," he said. "We have to prepare Guyanese companies to look confidently back at the world."
Gouveia also emphasized that access to capital remains available through institutions such as the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), but warned that businesses must become more structured, transparent and investment-ready.
"The capital is available," he said. "But your business needs to be prepared for it."
Looking ahead, he said the PSC's next phase of work will focus on moving beyond discussions and turning business relationships into tangible projects.
"We have spoken about consortiums. Now we have to formalize them and start bidding for these contracts," he told members.
For Gouveia, ensuring stronger local participation in oil and gas is not just about winning contracts. It is about creating opportunities for Guyanese entrepreneurs, strengthening small and medium-sized enterprises, and ensuring that the benefits of the country's energy boom are shared more widely across the economy.
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