MANAMA: Fuelled by unprecedented public and private regional spending schemes, investment opportunities in refining and petrochemical sector in the Middle East have reached record levels never seen before in any part of the world, according to an expert.
“Spending in the region, including investment incentives, is budgeted around $1 trillion over the next five years. With new facility refining and petrochemical construction at record-setting levels of investment, the prospects available for investment and growth opportunities are astonishing,” the Middle East Petrotech 2014 Chairman and Saudi Aramco’s Executive Director of Refining & NGL Fractionation, Omar Bazuhair, said.
“During the forum, officials and executives will highlight the available opportunities in the Gulf, the financing mechanisms available from the banking sectors and the government incentives available for investors,” he said.
“This complete picture will provide delegates a total business solution of what can be done, and how. The day concludes with the conference opening ceremony and a session on economic strength and downstream investments aimed at deepening economic growth within the region,” he said.
Refining and petrochemicals industry leaders will converge in Bahrain from Sunday May 18 to discuss the sector outlook and review technological advancements at the largest gathering of downstream oil and gas professionals in the Middle East.
Middle East Petrotech 2014 is expected to attract over 3,000 attendees over 4 days who will utilise the event to initiate new business, learn, benchmark and network with associates from across the globe.
Held from 18 – 21 May at the Ritz Carlton, Bahrain Hotel & Spa and Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre under the theme Downstream Value Chain Integration Opportunities, the event takes place under the patronage of His Royal Highness the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Bahrain Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa.
The conference has secured an impressive line up of speakers beginning with the conference opening ceremony on Sunday 18 May at the Ritz Carlton, Bahrain Hotel & Spa. The session will begin with welcome address from Bahrain’s Minister of Finance and Minister in Charge of Oil & Gas Affairs, His Excellency Shaikh Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Khalifa and Omar Bazuhair, Middle East Petrotech 2014 Chairman and Executive Director Refining & NGL Fractionation, Saudi Aramco.
Keynote addresses will follow from His Royal Highness Prince Faisal bin Turki bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, Advisor to the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Saudi Arabia; His Excellency Dr. Muhammad Al Jasser, Minister of Economy and Planning, Saudi Arabia; and Khalid Al Falih, President and Chief Executive Officer, Saudi Aramco.
Over the next three days at the Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre, the 3-stream conference will feature 90 technical sessions and three panel sessions led by industry thought-leaders who will discuss topical issues including Downstream Integration and Opportunities, New Business and Entrepreneurship, and Behaviour and Process Safety.
New for 2014, the organisers have also included a special high-level investment forum entitled Opportunities and Incentives for Enabling Downstream Industrialization. The forum takes place on 18 May at the Ritz Carlton, Bahrain Hotel and Spa and explores investment opportunities and government incentives via four panel sessions, led by CEOs of major companies and investment authorities.
Invited forum speakers include Dr. Meshaal Jaber Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah, Director General, Kuwait Direct Investment Promotion Authority; H.E. Kamal bin Ahmed Mohammed, Bahrain’s Minister of Transportation and Acting Chief Executive, Bahrain Economic Development Board; H.E. Dr. Mosleh Al-Otaibi, Chief Executive Officer, Royal Commission for Jubail; Abdul Rahman Al Mufadhi, Secretary General, Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund; Mohammed Al Mutairi, Chief Executive Officer, KNPC; Abdulrahman Al-Fageeh, Executive Vice President, Performance Chemicals, SABIC; Khaled Alohali, Vice Governor, SAGIA; Motassim A. Al-Ma’ashouq, Vice President, New Business Development, Saudi Aramco; Warren Wilder, Vice President, Chemicals, Saudi Aramco; Zuhair Allawi, President, DOW Saudi Arabia; Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, Industrial Expert; AlSharif Khaled Al-Ghalib, Senior Executive Vice President, Corporate Banking Sector, National Commercial Bank (AlAhli) and Jonathan Robinson, Regional Head of Banking, MENA, HSBC.
The free-to-attend Middle East Petrotech 2014 exhibition of refining and petrochemicals products and services showcases 128 exhibitors from 20 countries and runs from 19 – 21 May at the Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre. 6,000 sqm is devoted to the latest technologies, new product launches and best industry services in the refining and petrochemicals industry. Regional giants, including: Bapco, ADNOC, Borouge, KNPC, Petro Rabigh, Qatar Petroleum, Saudi Aramco, Sadara, SASREF (Saudi Aramco Shell Refinery), SATORP (Saudi Aramco Total Refining and Petrochemical Company), TASNEE (National Industrialization Company) and YASREF (Yanbu Aramco Sinopec Refining Company) are taking flagship stands. International service industry majors will also have a strong presence at Middle East Petrotech 2014. A host of specialist companies consolidate this line up.
Since its inauguration in 1996, the Middle East Petrotech series has established itself as a key industry forum for these highly significant sectors of the region’s economy. In 2012, a total of 2,550 conference delegates and trade visitors attended the event.