Twenty of the world’s leading oil and gas companies yesterday (November 6) gathered in Abu Dhabi to discuss strategies for future growth and how to stay competitive in the evolving energy landscape.

The the inaugural Abu Dhabi CEO Roundtable was also attended by HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.

Sheikh Mohamed welcomed the CEOs to the roundtable, which he said underlined the importance of Abu Dhabi as a global energy hub. He commended the initiative of Adnoc to bring together the world’s top industry executives, on the eve of Adipec, and expressed the hope the CEOs’ discussions would help advance the global oil and gas industry.

The senior executives were invited to the roundtable, held at Adnoc’s headquarters in the UAE capital, by  Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE Minister of State and Adnoc Group CEO. The roundtable focused on the new energy landscape and different models for partnerships across the industry.

Dr Al Jaber said: “This was an important opportunity for oil and gas industry leaders to share insights and perspectives on the energy challenges facing the world today. The roundtable provided a timely opportunity for us to reflect on these matters and to engage in open discussion and seek constructive solutions.”

The first gathering of its kind in the Middle East, the roundtable was held on the eve of Adipec, the world’s most influential oil and gas show, taking place in the UAE’s capital, from November 7 to 10.

The session was moderated by vice chairman IHS Markit, Pulitzer-Prize winning author and energy economist Daniel Yergin.

“The high level participation by the world’s leading oil and gas CEOs in the first CEO roundtable of its kind is a demonstration of the convening power of the leadership of ADNOC, Abu Dhabi and the UAE,” commented Dr Yergin.

“The forum was an excellent opportunity for the industry to consider the long term implications of the trends effecting the energy industry and how best to navigate them.”

Executives who attended the roundtable were: Bob Dudley, Group CEO of BP; Rex Tillerson, Chairman and CEO of Exxon Mobil Corporation; Patrick Pouyanné, Chairman and CEO of Total;  Saad Sherida Al Kaabi, President and CEO of Qatar Petroleum; Claudio Descalzi, CEO of ENI; Vicki A Hollub, President and CEO of Occidental; Ben van Beurden, CEO of Royal Dutch Shell; Eldar Sætre, President and Chief Executive Officer of Statoil; Amin H. Al-Nasser, CEO of Saudi Aramco; Musabbeh Al Kaabi, CEO of Mubadala Petroleum; Steve Suellentrop, President of HOC Energy Corp; B Ashok, Chairman of Indian Oil Co.;  Toshiaki Kitamura, Chief Executive Officer and President of Inpex Corporation; Jung Rae Kim, CEO of KNOC; Nizar Al-Adsani, Deputy Chairman and CEO of KPC; Mark Garrett, Chairman and CEO of Borealis; Paal Kibsgaard, Chairman and CEO of Schlumberger; António Costa Silva, Chairman of Partex; Rainer Seele, CEO of OMV; and Pedro Miro Roig, CEO of CEPSA. - TradeArabia News Service