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Qatar Takes High Profile at World Petroleum Congress/ H.E. Al-Attiyah Leads Qatar Delegation at World Petroleum Congress

MADRID, SPAIN, 28th June 2008 – His Excellency Abdullah Bin Hamad al-Attiyah, Deputy Premier and Minister of Energy and Industry is leading this week a large delegation from Qatar at the 19th World Petroleum Congress here in the Spanish capital.

Held under the theme: "A World in Transition: Delivering Energy for Sustainable Growth", the Congress will bring together key players from the oil and gas industry worldwide. H.M. King Juan Carlos I will officially inaugurate the Congress on the 30th of June.

The World Petroleum Congress is one of the most important industry conferences and exhibitions and as it is held every three years is recognised as the “Olympics” of the oil and gas industry attracting more than 5,000 delegates.

Other members of the Qatar delegation include senior management from Qatar Petroleum, Qatar Petroleum International, Qatargas, RasGas, Ras Laffan Industrial City, Mesaieed Industrial City, QAPCO and QAFCO who are participating in the exhibition.

Qatar is also staging a major country pavilion highlighting the country as the host of the 20th WPC to be held in Doha in 2011 which Qatar successfully bid for last year. Visitors to the WPC will literally get a taste of Qatar through traditional food and drinks, see cultural performances and handicraft demonstrations such as weaving and henna. It is expected more than 20,000 people will visit the Qatar Pavilion which is strategically located between the two exhibition halls, during the event.

During the WPC, H.E. Al-Attiyah will chair a session on natural gas as an emerging global commodity as well as lead a ministerial session on the Qatari experience which will feature presentations by QP, Qatar Petroleum International and RasGas.

On the final day Qatar will stage a cultural show during the closing ceremony and host a reception for delegates.

The 19th WPC will hear from 600 speakers, including over 100 CEOs, to deliver presentations on the latest research and developments in the oil and gas industry, addressing future options of fuel supply and delivery, as well as its impact on people and environment.

A few of the topics being addressed during the congress include deliverability challenges, finding, accessing and reporting reserves, the industry’s water usage, biofuels and motor fuel quality, securing European gas supply, geopolitics, the environmental footprint of the industry, social responsibility, societal expectations and the role of young people. The Congress Program will feature 88 sessions over the four days including presentations from 18 countries led by their ministers who will take this opportunity to give us an in-depth view of their national oil and gas industry and announce opportunities for cooperation.

The contract was signed during a ceremony at the International Petroleum Technology Conference VIP dinner hosted by Qatar Petroleum at Sharq Village and Spa in the presence of H.E. Dr. Mohamed Al-Sada Minister of State for Energy & Industry Affairs and Dr Randy Gossen, President of the World Petroleum Council.

It was signed by the Chairman, Qatar National Committee for the WPC, Abdulla Salatt and Mohammed Al-Naama, Deputy CEO, QMDI.

QMDI will work with the Qatar Organising Committee on the sales and marketing of the event as part of an international roadshow to promote the event to potential sponsors, exhibitors and delegates. It will also manage the exhibition at the Qatar National Convention Centre.

“I am extremely proud that Qatar has the honor to host the 20th WPC. Bringing the WPC to this region for the first time will offer many their first chance to come to know more about the petroleum industry here. We look forward to working with QMDI to make this the best Congress ever,” H.E. Dr. Mohamed Al-Sada, Minister of State for Energy & Industry Affairs said.
President of the World Petroleum Council, Dr Randy Gossen said: “We are privileged to be hosted by Qatar, a dynamic country whose importance in the global oil and gas industry is now very significant. At the World Petroleum Council, we ae committed to supporting the efforts of the Qatar Organising Committee for the 20th World Petroleum Congress to deliver a relevant and memorable Congress.”

This will be the first time in its long history, that the World Petroleum Congress will be held in the Middle East. Under the theme “Energy Solutions for All: Promoting Cooperation, Innovation and Investment”, The 20th World Petroleum Congress will be held in the new Qatar National Convention Centre and will occupy the future venue’s full capacity for the first time.

“Already we have in place under the Qatar Organising Committee (QOC) teams making preparations for the event. While it is still two years away, much is to be done to ensure it is remembered as the most successful WPC ever. I’m very confident that with the combined efforts of the QOC, Qatar Petroleum as host organization, and QMDI we will achieve this,” said Abdulla Salatt, Chairman, Qatar National Committee for the WPC.

Every three years the World Petroleum Council, the world’s premier oil and gas forum, organises the World Petroleum Congress hosted by one of its member countries. Qatar was selected as host country for the 20th World Petroleum Congress by the World Petroleum Council in a secret electronic ballot vote in Uruguay in 2007.

The World Petroleum Congress considered as the “Olympics of the Oil and Gas Industry”. With attendees expected from over 100 countries and five continents, the event promises to attract a substantial amount of international and local attention as well as garner the support from many leading industry associations and government bodies. Over 4,000 delegates were registered at the 19th World Petroleum Congress in Madrid in 2008. In addition, the exhibition attracted over 500 exhibitors and more than 12,000 trade exhibition visitors.

QMDI was established in 2007. As the largest events company in Qatar, QMDI’s professional event management services delivers international expertise coupled with extensive local market knowledge to produce dynamic and innovative events.

Rashid Al Naimi, Chairman of QMDI, said commenting on the event: “This is the most important event on the global petroleum’s industry calendar and it gives us great pleasure to be a part of it. QMDI has the skills and the experience to make this event a memorable one for Qatar”.

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