Typically, at the onset of oil and gas exploration, development, and production activities in new regions, expatriate employees and contractors from operators and service companies dominate the sector on the basis that they exclusively had the requisite know-how and capabilities. Local expertise was lacking, and no framework existed to increase local capability and create a competitive local supplier base. Governments also focused on shortening the timeline to economic prosperity by rent collection, with participation by indigenous groups given a lower priority. Pressure for increasing local content subsequently emerged from individuals because natural resources belonged to the state; nationals initially had no leverage or wherewithal to change the thrust of policy. Progressively, capital flight, slower-than-expected economic growth, increases in trained local manpower, and high unemployment made a case for change. This led to nationals advocating for increased participation and inclusion in the sector value chain.