Adipec to be held on larger scale in 2004

Growing exhibitor interest and the massive developments in the Gulf's oil and gas sectors will see Adipec 2004 organised on a bigger scale, organisers said on the closing day.

With 80 per cent of space already booked for Adipec 2004, the General Exhibitions Corp (GEC) is planning to increase space.

"There is an increasingly growing interest in Adipec due to many oil and gas developments in the region. We can see high interest from new countries wanting to come for Adipec. We are thinking of increasing the exhibition area," Ali Abdullah Al Tanaiji, acting director general told Gulf News yesterday.

Adipec 2002 which ended yesterday pulled in over 21,000 visitors - 33 per cent higher than the previous edition. Over 1,000 companies - local, regional and international, from 48 countries - showcased the latest products, services and technologies relating to the oil and gas sector.

"GEC is more than satisfied with the response, which surpassed our expectations. It clearly confirms that Adipec is the premier event in this region, if not worldwide as this region holds about two-thirds of the global oil and gas reserves," said Ashok Pillai, project director, Adipec 2002.

For Adipec 2004, more national pavilions are planned due to larger participation from key countries, especially the technology leaders in the industry, notably North America and Europe.

Saudi Arabia had 16 companies this time and if the same trend continues, a national pavilion is planned for them for the next show, he said.

Participation from the UAE went up 35 per cent, he added.

Exhibitors were unanimous that Adipec has carved a distinctive niche of its own among oil and gas exhibitions. This year's show is definitely bigger and better than ever before, said Frank Kemnetz, president, ExxonMobil - UAE. With over 82 U.S. companies participating, it showed the confidence of U.S. companies in the UAE and GCC economies, in companies here and the oil and gas sector.

"This exhibition provided a great opportunity for participants to get a sneak preview of the latest global technologies in the oil industry," said Andrew Young, president of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE).

The local Emirates Holdings had 21 companies in its large stand and has already booked the same space for the next Adipec.

"With plans to add local value through manufacturing, assembling, after sales service, Adipec is the ideal venue to transact business and make contacts," said Hussain Al Nowais, company managing director.

Another local company, Emdad, which announced a tie-up with Shell Solar during Adipec wants more space for the next Adipec.

"Some of our companies couldn't be accomodated due to limited space. But what we achieved at Adipec in just two or three days would have taken two or three months otherwise," said Hassan Ali Darwish, chairman, Emdad.

Philipa Wiffen of the Energy Industries Council viewed Adipec as "positive" for the 42 UK companies. "Adipec is a well-established event and will remain the event of choice in the oil and gas sector."

Some exhibitors however said events organisers should coordinate better so that two or three major events such as Adipec, GasTech in Doha and Gitex in Dubai do not occur at the same time.