Over 120 oil and gas experts gathered in Dubai for CWC's NOCs and Governments Summit

Organised by The CWC Group and held under the patronage of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Maktoum bin Juma Al Maktoum, the Summit started on September 17 and drew the participation of more than 120 experts in the Oil & Gas industry from around the globe to explore effective strategies, best practices and current trends in the oil and gas industry.

The second day of the Summit opened with a session on Oil Investment Legislation of Iraq, presented by Dr Othman Salman Gihlan, Director General, Legal Department, Iraq's Council of Ministers. The event continued throughout the morning with a panel discussion on ensuring maximum benefits for local industry, foreign investors, and the local economy. The discussion was chaired by Jabbar Allibi, Former DG of the South Oil Company & Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Minister's Former Advisor for the South Oil Fields, Iraqi Ministry of Oil. Speaking at this session was Willy Olsen, advisor, INSTOK, Alexandre Oliveria, Partner-Global Emerging Markets, Oil & Gas Sector Lead, Ernst & Young, and Afua Amissah, Head of Local Content, Ministry of Energy, Ghana.

Just before lunch, a session on fostering innovation and building SMEs to develop in country knowledge was presented by Barbara Gbologah-Quaye, Country Director, Ghana, CDC Development Solutions. The session focussed on the role that IOCs and services companies play in encouraging local innovation, the role of SMEs in job creation and stimulating innovation as well as the role of international companies in helping local SMEs grow in their supply chains.

The final session of the Summit focused on promoting technology and knowledge transfer alongside research and development. During this session, the speakers discussed key partnerships between IOCs and NOCs and the importance of knowledge transfer, investing in R&D and the role of SMEs in promoting technological advancement in the local industries.

The session was chaired by Willy Olsen and welcomed the following speakers: Hashim Al Rifaai, Chairman & Managing Director, Kuwait Gulf Oil Company; Dr Saif Al Sayari, Executive Officer - Energy Solutions, TAQA (Abu Dhabi National Energy Company PJSC; Dr Tony Klein, EVP Strategic Projects, Olive Group - Solutions, Jabbar Alllibi, Former DG of the South Oil Company & Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Minister's Former Advisor for the South Oil Fields, Iraqi Ministry of Oil, and Dr Tony Klein, EVP Strategic Projects, Olive Group - Solutions.