DENMORE secured Garments Manufacturers Inc. and Caribbean Clothing Company Limited – both local companies – have contracts to produce a total of 2,000 covenants for construction workers in Singapore.
Workers are supporting the construction of the Prosperity, which will be Guyana’s third float, production, storage and offloading (FPSO).
The first shipment has already made its way to distribution to ExxonMobil, SBM Offshore and Dyna-Mac personnel.
ExxonMobil Guyana production manager Mike Ryan said this was part of ongoing efforts to get Guyanese businesses involved in various aspects of the company’s activities.
“It’s a great example of continuing to build capabilities here in Guyana – making a difference through deploying and developing suppliers,” he said, adding: “As more projects come online, there will be more opportunities for Guyanese companies. There is a lot of expertise here in Guyana and so we look forward to seeing people push the limits of what they can do and help us develop Guyana’s resources responsibly. ”
Ryan shared the view that wearing locally manufactured personal protective equipment (PPE) will inspire an additional sense of pride among the Singapore workforce and, hopefully, those who created the quality coveralls in Guyana.
Meanwhile, SBM Offshore, North America and the Caribbean’s Head of Regional Operations, Michiel Heuven, noted that this was an expression of his company’s commitment to Guyana.
“In the case of the FPSO, we have looked at the different services we believe can be developed in Guyana. The coveralls are a very good example where we felt we could bring the specifications required in the oil and gas industry and the specifications in SBM Offshore, over to Guyana and work with local partners, ”he added.
Representatives from both companies recently passed samples of the coveralls to ExxonMobil Guyana and SBM Offshore.
“It’s a great opportunity for the company itself, but more importantly, it really gives bigger companies a chance to see what Guyanese companies can supply,” said Brooke Glassford of Caribbean Clothing Company Ltd.
He continued: “From the outset, we have been providing personal protective equipment (uniforms) and in 2010, we started with anti-fire units for miners and welders. This allowed us to seamlessly pivot in PPE specifically for oil and gas. ”
After sales fell by nearly 50 percent because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Glassford noted that this contract enabled the company to re-staff. “We hope that this contract with SBM Offshore and ExxonMobil will really open the sluice gates for more opportunities,” he expressed.
Upasna Mudlier of Denmor Garments Manufacturers Inc. said. that her company “is honored and delighted that we can be a part of this. To be able to contribute to Guyana’s economy, we are proud of that attitude, and that we can provide more employment opportunities for Guyanese. ”
He explained that Denmor is currently achieving ISO compliance – an international standard for organizations – to further serve the industry.
Mudlier added: “Our company has been able to take advantage of the many courses offered at the Local Business Development Center, in Georgetown, to gain competitive advantage and better serve this sector.”