Exxon returns to back ECONOME 2026 as conference expands focus on entrepreneurship, community impact

ExxonMobil Guyana has returned as a sponsor of the fifth anniversary edition of the ECONOME Business Conference, deepening a partnership that organizers say is helping to expand entrepreneurship, innovation and youth empowerment across Guyana.

Now entering its fifth year, the ECONOME Business Conference has grown from a small business podcast into one of Guyana’s emerging platforms for entrepreneurs, small businesses, creatives, professionals and aspiring business leaders.

This year’s conference, themed “Swim Differently,” is expected to focus heavily on innovation, strategic thinking and encouraging Guyanese entrepreneurs to move beyond traditional business models in a rapidly transforming economy.

The two-day event is scheduled for June 20–21, 2026 at the Four Points by Sheraton Georgetown and is expected to attract hundreds of participants from across the country.

Founder of ECONOME, Matthew Gaul, described ExxonMobil Guyana’s continued support as a major signal of confidence in the platform’s growing national influence.

According to organizers, the collaboration between ECONOME and ExxonMobil Guyana is rooted in shared goals surrounding business development, empowerment and long-term national growth.

Beyond the conference itself, this year’s partnership will also support a community outreach initiative in St. Cuthbert’s Mission ahead of the main event.

The outreach programme is expected to include a Business and Entrepreneurship Forum focused on financial literacy, digital transformation and mental wellness, alongside a medical outreach initiative and youth sports engagement activities.

Organizers say the expanded community component reflects ECONOME’s wider philosophy that entrepreneurship and economic development should directly impact communities outside of Georgetown and traditional business spaces.

Over the last four years, the conference has increasingly positioned itself as a hub for networking, mentorship, SME development and conversations around innovation and Caribbean business growth.

The return of ExxonMobil Guyana as a sponsor also comes at a time when the country’s private sector ecosystem is rapidly evolving alongside Guyana’s oil-driven economic expansion, creating growing discussions around entrepreneurship, local capacity building and the future role of Guyanese businesses in a transforming economy.