Turnout of 5,200 visitors consolidates position of Arab Oil and Gas Show as the region's premier event

More than 250 exhibitors from over 32 countries participated in the show that was open to trade and industry professionals for four days, starting October 12, 2003.

Exhibitors at the show conducted business transaction worth million of dollars, as well as signed agreements and letters of intent with leading product and services providers from the oil and gas industry professionals across the world. The show also provided the stage for numerous new technology and software launches, including the launch of a new inspection, repair and maintenance facility for offshore drilling rigs that will be fully functional by the end of the first quarter of 2004, at the Hamriyah Free Port Zone in UAE.

'The OGS show provides a important informal forum for discussion and networking among participants and industry professionals, which is extremely important for the growth of the industry. At the show, participants not only have the opportunity to conduct an in-depth examination of products and ideas and express their requirements freely, but can also establish an open channel of communication with international product and service providers', said Anselm Godinho, Managing Director, International Conferences and Exhibitions, the organisers of the show.

'This year visitors at the show had the opportunity to experience first-hand cutting-edge technologies from over 250 companies. Many companies achieved lucrative deals, surpassing our expectations. A phenomenal amount of business was conducted during the show and exhibitors were pleased with the establishment of tangible new networks of distribution and communication for the products and services,' added Godinho.

Airblast Middle East, a leading local exhibitor announced that it has transacted business worth an estimated USD 4.7 million for its range of stationary wheel blast machines, fully automated Blast Rooms and the Airblast Aqua Storm Dust Free Slurry Blast System. Airblast also signed supply contracts for its range of steel abrasives worth an estimated USD 500,000 over the next twelve months. The company also launched the Graco Xtreme Mix Plural Component Sprayer (Xtreme Mix) at OGS 2003.

'OGS 2003 has provided us with the ideal forum for the launch of Xtreme Mix, which is the world's only portable, air powered, ratio assured, variable ratio, plural component sprayer. The presence of large country pavilions from across the world, gave the product the best possible exposure amongst industry professionals and experts,' said Nick Smith, Managing Director, Airblast Middle East.

Another exhibitor, Euroblast Middle East, transacted business deals worth an estimated 4 million US dollars for its portfolio of products, ranging from an automatic wheel blast machine for pipes and plates, various blasting and coating equipment for pipeline projects, as well as for a reactor plural component machine, that was the company's showpiece at the show. 'We were expecting a good response to the products on display at our stand, since our portfolio includes cutting edge technology products. However, the show has also provided us with the opportunity to launch new partnerships and we will shortly announce detailed plans for setting up a spiral weld pipe manufacturing plant in Oman,' said Kabeer Khader, Managing Director, Euroblast Middle East.

An interesting sidelight of the show was a large contingent of trainees from ADNOC and its subsidiary companies, who were on a supervised tour of the show to analyse the cutting edge technology and software launches in the show, as well as to interact with industry professionals from around the world.

One of the highlights of the show was the large Iranian presence of more than 15 companies, including National Iran Oil Company (NIOC) and National Petrochemical Company (NPC), and over 500 Iranian trade visitors, which provided exhibiting companies with the opportunity of opening channels of distribution and communication with the oil and gas industry in Iran. The show also registered large participation from the UK, Turkey, Russia, Malaysia, Italy, Germany, China and UAE.