Prince Muhammad Bin Fahd Bin Abdul Aziz, Emir of Eastern Province, inaugurated here Monday the Saudi Arabia International Oil & Gas Exhibition and Conference (SAOGE 2008) at Dhahran International Exhibitions Company (DIEC). The Emir said the exhibition and conference highlight the important role of the Kingdom in the global oil and gas industry. Over 180 local, regional and international exhibitors from 30 countries are participating in the three-day exhibition, while 40 international speakers will present over 60 papers that discuss and address the various aspects of the petroleum business. Attending the events are government officials from the Gulf region and executives and managers of oil and gas companies in the Mideast, Europe, Asia and North America. Abdallah S. Jum'ah, President and Chief Executive Officer of Saudi Aramco, the principal sponsor of SAOGE, said the oil and gas exhibition and conference is one of the most important events in the Kingdom's petroleum sectors and is being held as Saudi Aramco celebrates the 75th year of its establishment. He said SAOGE 2008 was an important forum for oil and gas representatives and professionals to exchange views and developments for the world oil and gas industry. In his message, Jum'ah said Saudi Aramco is “cognizant of the role our hydrocarbon supplies play in helping people achieve their economic aspirations. At the same time, we are mindful of our responsibility to minimize the footprint of our activities, and the impact of the energy products we supply on the earth's environment.” Adel A. Aloumi, Director General of DIEC, said the event provides the local, regional and international oil and gas companies with the opportunity to meet and discuss the key issues affecting the development of Saudi Arabia's oil and gas sector, strengthen existing relationships, and build new business partnerships. Among the international guests attending the conference is Hady Fahmy, President of the Egyptian Chamber of Petroleum and Mining and Deputy CEO of Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC). The participating companies are from Saudi Arabia, led by Saudi Aramco and SABIC affiliates, GCC countries, Europe, USA, the Mideast and Asia. The biggest national delegation is from China with about 30 Chinese companies engaged in oil exploration. – SG __
