The 15th edition of OGS 2008 will be held in Dubai from October 28 to 30, amid growing calls by business leaders for substantial investments towards alternative and renewable energy projects.

The Show seeks to embrace a spectrum of energy sources and strengthen its contribution to emerging sustainable development initiatives in the UAE and across the Middle East.

A recent poll showed that up to 92 per cent of regional business leaders believe that the UAE should invest in research and implementation of projects for solar, wind, bio-fuel and other alternative sources of energy.

The business community, one of society's biggest energy consumers, has been galvanised into action in the face of a possible 35 per cent water and power shortfall by 2012, as a result of spiralling energy demands. Energy consumption in the city of Dubai alone is increasing 15 per cent year on year, according to reports.

'OGS 2008 will pool together experts and professionals from a diverse range of industries to tackle pressing issues that affect the future of our society,' said said Anselm Godinho, managing director, International Conferences and Exhibitions (IC&E), the organisers of OGS.

'We have established a networking platform that will leverage the expertise, knowledge and experience of various industry players in a collective effort to address the impending energy shortage through the development of economical, ecologically-viable alternative sources of energy,' he added.

Meanwhile, the OGS – Careers Expo, another new component of the Show,  serves as a direct channel for job seekers, recruitment services providers and direct employers.-TradeArabia News Service