Held under the Patronage of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Maktoum bin Juma Al Maktoum

Summit kicks off on September 17 with 'Knowledge & Innovation Interactive Seminar'

Dubai, UAE (13 September 2012) - NOCs & Governments Summit will kick off in Dubai on Monday, September 17 at The Address Hotel in Dubai Marina. The Summit, held under the patronage of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Maktoum bin Juma Al Maktoum, will run until September 19 and will welcome elite key decision makers from the oil and gas industry, along with many high-profile government officials and regulators from around the world.

Confirmed speakers at the NOCs & Governments Summit include: Dr Othman Salman Gihlan, Director General Legal Department, Iraq's Council of Ministers; Dr Ali Salhi, Chairman for Oil and Economic Development, Governorate of Kirkuk; Sami Al-Rushaid, Chairman & Managing Director, Kuwait Oil Company; Hashim Al-Rifaai, Chairman, Kuwait Gulf Oil Company; Aldo Flores-Quiroga, Secretary General, International Energy Forum; Manuel Ferreira De Oliveira, President, Galp Energia; Hon Emmanuel A Kofi Buah, Deputy Minister of Energy, Ministry of Energy, Ghana; Eng Ernest Nwapa, Executive Secretary & CEO, Nigerian Content Development & Monitoring Board; Mark Carne, Executive Vice President MENA, Shell Upstream International; Frank Kemnetz, VP and GM, ExxonMobil Upstream Ventures (Middle East); Jean Luc Guiziou, President, TOTAL UAE.

"Fostering new talent and innovation will be the key focus for the energy industry over the coming years," said H Frederic Ponton, The CWC Group's Director of Government Relations - Middle East.  "This Summit will explore the best steps forward, and we are very excited for the event launch, especially with the confirmations we had from the regions' elite speakers and representatives."

The Summit will kick off with an Interactive Seminar titled 'Knowledge & Innovation Seminar' that will address the key opportunities and challenges facing the industry and host-nations as they navigate the evolving landscape of the energy sector. The Seminar will explore methods for creating a beneficial climate to support the development of local knowledge and boost innovation in the industry. It will also discuss building partnerships between international and local companies, research bodies and education institutions.  

 "This is an important time for the oil and gas industry," said Hannah Lawrence, NOCs & Governments Summit Director of The CWC Group. "Oil and gas will continue to shape the future of the economy, but now there is a greater focus in the industry on developing innovative strategies for accessing more challenging fields, in order to maximise the region's resources."

"With this emerging focus, along with the need for local governments to ensure sufficient jobs are available for the region's rapidly growing population, the opportunity is tremendous for key decision makers to come together and determine the next steps forward for the industry. The NOCs & Governments Summit is a powerful platform to do just that, and to explore strategies for maximizing the economic benefit to local economies to ensure sustainable, and long-term growth," Lawrence concluded.

Billed as "The meeting place for NOCs, Governments & Industry," the NOCs & Governments Summit will explore long-term strategies for creating jobs, developing innovation and building sustainable economic growth in oil-producing countries across the region. The summit will feature a full schedule of seminars devoted to job creation and developing strategies for attracting investment into research and development. The Summit will also feature a panel discussion on maximizing oil revenue benefits for local governments.

-Ends-

About The CWC Group
The CWC Group specializes in energy and infrastructure issues and is dedicated to developing knowledge, creating commercial opportunities and implementing strategic solutions for governments and industries by offering professional training, strategic conferences and exhibitions around the world. Recognized for its outstanding achievements toward these goals, The CWC Group was honored with the Queen's Award for Enterprise in 2011 and in 2007 under the category of International Trade. The CWC Group maintains long-established partnerships with governments, corporate investors, trade organizations and senior industry executives in order to promote private-public co-operation in the oil, gas, power and telecommunication sectors. The CWC Group currently works with over 30 governments, OPEC, the World Bank and numerous non-profit associations and non-governmental organizations.

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© Press Release 2012