A total of 273 companies from 31 countries are taking part in the second edition of the ongoing Saudi Arabian Oil & Gas Exhibition & Conference (Saoge) in Dhahran.

The event was inaugurated by Zareb bin Sa’eed Al Qahtani, Deputy Governor of the Eastern Province, at the Dhahran International Exhibition Centre yesterday (November 1) to run until November 3.

Co-organised by International Exhibition Services (IES), leading exhibition services provider, and the Dhahran International Exhibition Centre (DIEC), Saoge 2009 has posted a 30 per cent growth in the number of companies exhibiting, as compared to last year’s event.

Covering a total of 9200sq m the exhibition, Saoge 2009 sees global participation from all continents with 40 per cent of exhibitors from the GCC and 60 per cent of exhibitors from international countries.

Piero Zipoli, president, IES, said: “We strongly believed in the validity of an oil and gas show based in Saudi Arabia, and the increased demand for the 2009 show proves that given its prominent position in the oil and gas sector, Saudi Arabia is the perfect location.”

“We are extremely encouraged by this global participation and feel it is a great achievement to have reached in just 2 years, and to be building an oil and gas show in the Eastern province.”

Dr Randy Gossen, president of the World Petroleum Council, added: “We recognize the key importance of Saudi Arabia and Saudi Aramco for the global oil and gas industry.”

The three-day conference will cover an expanded agenda with an international panel of speakers discussing alternative energy and sustainability, the challenge of fluctuating oil prices, exploration potential and future opportunities and the role of technology.

The newly launched ‘Industry Meets University’ initiative also received wide acceptance and praise with 100 students selected from the King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals and King Faisal University to participate during the university sessions.

The initiative is aimed at encouraging Saudisation by providing selected local students with the opportunity to meet with key industry representatives, from the region, as well as international oil and gas companies. – TradeArabia News Service