Guyana - Suriname Virtual Conference Series

Host: Columbia Business School

Wednesday, April 21 & 28, 2021

12 p.m. EDT / 11 a.m. CDT

Virtual event via Zoom. Details to be provided upon RSVP.

RSVP is required.

Presented by Columbia Business School's Alumni Club of South Florida and Columbia Business School's Alumni Club of Houston

Led by recent discoveries of offshore hydrocarbons in the Guyana-Suriname Basin, there is intense interest in developing both countries’ resources.  Substantial opportunities exist not only in the oil & gas sector, but also in renewable energy (hydro, solar, wind and biomass), infrastructure (housing, hotels, roads, bridges and ports), education, training, supply chain and social programs. Both nations, and immediate neighbors, are considering cross-border projects.

The Columbia Business School alumni clubs will bring together experts from government and the private sector in each session to discuss these opportunities in the Basin in a two-part virtual conference series.  Each session will be 90 minutes and will allow participants a Q&A segment at the end of the session. Participants may submit their questions in advance of each session to [email protected]. There is no cost for attending the programs.

RSVP for Session I (April 21)

RSVP for Session II (April 28)

Session I: April 21, 2021 (12:00 - 1:30 p.m. EDT)

Moderator: 

Robert J. Downing,  Business '84, CBS Alumni Club Leader, South Florida; Partner, Greenberg Traurig, P.A. Miami; Houston

Speakers:

Ambassador Niermala Badrising, Ambassador of the Republic of Suriname to the U.S. introducing The Honorable Albert Ramdin, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Business and International Cooperation of the Republic of Suriname

Ambassador Riyad Insanally, Ambassador of Co-Operative Republic of Guyana to the U.S. introducing The Honorable Vickram Bhaarat, Guyana Minister of Natural Resources, Co-operative Republic of Guyana

Michael Claps, Vice President, Global Account (Key Account, Exxon Mobil), Technip FMC, Houston, Texas

Dana Marshall, President, Transnational Strategy Group, Washington, D.C. 

Jordan Cowman, Esq., Partner, Greenberg Traurig, Dallas, Texas

Session II: April 28, 2021 (12:00 - 1:30 p.m. EDT)

Moderator:

Peter Tesarek,  Business ’89, CBS Alumni Club Leader, Houston; Senior Manager, SAP-ERP, Technip, FMC, Houston

Speakers:

Dr. Peter Ramsaroop, CEO/Chief Investment Officer, GO-Invest, Guyana

Mr. Annand Jagesar, Acting Managing Director of the State Oil company, StaatsOlie

Tom Fauria, Former Country Manager for Kosmos in Suriname

Ambassador (ret.) Ned Nolan, Senior Advisor for Suriname and Immediate Past U.S. Ambassador to Suriname, Transnational Strategy Group, LLC, Washington, D.C.

Robert J. Downing, Business ’84, Partner, Greenberg Traurig, P.A. Miami; Houston

*Note: other governmental officials from the Co-Operative Republic of Guyana and the Republic of Suriname to be determined.

If you have any questions regarding this event, please contact Alexandra Kennedy, associate director for alumni clubs, events, and engagement, at [email protected]