KIOGE 2009: expanding Oil and Gas Partnerships

    On 6-9 October, Almaty will is hosting the 17^th Kazakhstan International Oil and Gas Exhibition and Conference -- KIOGE 2009.
    KIOGE is the country s leading industry event in the oil and gas sector. In his welcome letter to KIOGE participants, Sauat Mynbayev, Kazakhstan s Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, said.
    The exhibition has already acquired a status of the largest and most respected event in this industry not only in Kazakhstan but all over the Central Asian region .
    The exhibition and conference bring together the most prominent professionals in the Kazakhstani oil and gas sector. This enables domestic and international companies to forge partnerships that will help to maximize the efficiency and effectiveness of oil exploration, production and transit in this influential market.
    Oil was first found in Kazakhstan 110 years ago and oil now accounts for 15% of the country s GDP. Oil revenues are an important contributor to the development and growth in the economy and provide valuable stability in a difficult global financial environment.
    With proven recoverable oil reserves of 4.8 million tons, which corresponds to 3% of total global reserves, Kazakhstan ranks in the world's top ten countries for proven recoverable oil reserves.
    In the next five to ten years, as oil and gas outputs grow, the role of the oil and gas sector in national development will undoubtedly increase. At the same time, experts predict a renewal of economic growth worldwide, which, naturally, will lead to increased energy consumption.
    The event benefits from the support of Kazakhstan s Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, the Almaty City Akimat and the country s national oil company, KazMunaiGas.
    The exhibition will showcase products and services from hundreds of companies from around the world, including some of the best known names in the industry.
    The conference features high level speakers and delegates who will learn about, and debate some of the most topical issues affecting the industry.
    The exhibition and conference form the centerpiece of a week long schedule of seminars, roundtables, a job fair, business presentations and a host of networking events, including cocktail receptions, gala dinners and a golf day.
    KIOGE is organized by ITECA, part of the international trade event organizer, ITE Group.
    The Head of ITE s International Oil and Gas Division, Graeme Coombes said. KIOGE is an all encompassing trade event and it offers value to everyone involved in the Kazakhstani oil and gas sector.
    The conference, exhibition and other events that run in parallel to KIOGE provide an array of opportunities for learning, relationship building, product promotion and business.
    It is the region s premier trade event and the dynamic nature of the world s economy and the vital role that the energy sector plays within it, means that this year s event will be arguably one of the most eagerly anticipated in the event s 16 year history.
    KIOGE is regularly attended by high ranking officials including heads of foreign ministries, ambassadors, representatives of diplomatic services accredited in Kazakhstan, and government officials.
    This year, officials who have scheduled to attend the event include:
    Sauat Mynbayev, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, Republic of Kazakhstan, Kairgeldy Kabyldin, President of KazMunaiGas JSC
    Her Excellency Ms Maria van der Hoeven Minister for Economic Affairs, Netherlands
    Daniel Poneman, Deputy Secretary of Energy, US Department of Energy
    David Lammy, Minister of State for Higher Education and Intellectual Property, UK and many others.
    KIOGE 2009 exhibitors include about 520 companies from 30 countries. The event is visited by thousands of professionals from the fields of science, production and management in all areas of oil and gas exploration, production, transit, storage and processing.
    The following companies have confirmed their participation: KazMunaiGas National Company JSC, Karachaganak Petroleum Operating, KazGiproNefteTrans, KazPetroMash, NIPI NefteGaz, MunaiGasEngineering, Caspian Pipeline Consortium, B.V. Chevron, CNPC, Invensys, Innovation Norway, Inpex, Gazprom, LUKoil, NCOC, SOCAR, Total, national groups from Canada, China, France, Germany, Holland, Italy, Norway, Finland and UK.
    KIOGE is organized by the Kazakhstan exhibition company ITECA, part of the ITE Group, with partners from the UK, Russia, Germany, Turkey, China and other countries.
    Since its inception in 2003, KIOGE has been held under the auspices of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources of Kazakhstan, the Almaty City Akimat, and KazMunaiGas.
    KIOGE 2009 is supported by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the European Business Association of Kazakhstan, the Delegation of the European Commission and foreign diplomatic missions accredited in Kazakhstan. Media and information support was provided by more than 100 Kazakhstan and international publications.
    KIOGE Conference will take place on 7-8 October 2009 at the InterContinental Almaty, The Ankara in Kazakhstan. More than 1,000 delegates will participate and the agenda includes reports by managers of a number of oil and gas companies.
    Special attention will be given to the inclusion of Kazakhstan as a supplier of Caspian hydrocarbons to Eurasian markets.
    KIOGE is a forum for comprehensive, constructive, detailed and professional discussion of ways to develop the oil and gas industry in Kazakhstan and the Caspian countries.
    The exhibition and conference aim to reflect the main development trends in the oil and gas industry, to focus attention on the state of the industry and determine growth prospects for the Kazakhstan oil and gas market all of which is critical during a difficult global economic period, according to ITECA.