GM to participate in the First Annual Conference on Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Economy in the Middle East

The event will take place in Dubai, UAE, from Dec. 6-7, 2005; the conference title is "Middle East and Hydrogen Technology: opportunities and challenges".

GM will be represented by a high level delegation including Mr. Larry Burns, GM vice president of R&D and Planning, and the GM-Sequel chief engineer, Dr. Mohsen Shabana. Mr. Burns, in a post event meeting on the morning of Dec. 8th, will meet with a group of key people in the region that includes policy makers, business people, and technical personnel to discuss ways and means to raise the awareness and move forward the use of hydrogen fuel in the region.

"The next 100 years will be shaped by how quickly and smoothly the world introduces hydrogen as a transportation fuel. Today, there are roughly 750 million cars and trucks in the world. This number represents only 12 percent of the world's population who can afford to own a personal car or truck. That population of vehicles is projected to grow to 1.1 billion by 2020," said Mr. Scott Fosgard, GM's spokesman for advanced technology. "We simply must introduce renewable energy in order for the economies of the world to grow, for the growing middle class in emerging markets to have increasing wealth, and for people who dreamed all their lives of owning a vehicle to finally realize their dreams." Mr. Fosgard added, "GM feels that this conference, first of its kind in the Middle East, is an excellent step in the right direction, and held in the perfect region to promote hydrogen as the fuel of choice for coming generations."

"We are very excited to have GM as a platinum sponsor for this unique event in the Middle East," said Dr. Homam Albaroudi, managing director of MEFH. "We are looking forward to a successful meeting that will bring together, in one forum, all necessary elements that can make hydrogen economy a reality."