INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS WEEK IN ATYRAU

Work has started in Atyrau on the largest exhibition in the region, which combines two topics – oil and gas and construction – "Atyrau Oil & Gas 2014" and "Atyrau Build 2014." The Exhibition will be held from 1 through 3 April in the Atyrau Sports Complex and a temporary pavilion especially erected for the event. In line with tradition, the 8th Atyrau Regional Oil and Gas Technology Conference OILTECH Atyrau 2014 will be held at the same time, on 1-2 April in the Renaissance Atyrau Hotel.

Official support for the project is provided by the RoK Ministry of Oil and Gas, the RoK Ministry of Regional Development, NC KazMunaiGaz JSC, Atyrau municipal and Oblast Akims' Offices (administrations), the RoK Union of Service Companies and the Kazakhstani Society of Petroleum Geologists. The organizers of the exhibition are Iteca (Kazakhstan) and ITE Group Plc (U.K.) companies.

"The Atyrau region is important not only in terms of its geopolitical status, but also in terms of the strategic role it plays in the national economy. Because of this, concern about the socioeconomic status of this region is one of our top priorities. In connection with this, there is a pressing need to conduct regional business events with the involvement of the key operators, service companies and representatives of state bodies," said Uzakbay Karabalin, Kazakhstan's Minister of Oil and Gas, in his open address to the participants at the event.

The Atyrau Oil & Gas 2014 exhibition will include 140 companies from Austria, Belarus, the U.K., Germany, India, Italy, Kazakhstan, Canada, China, the Netherlands, Russia, Romania, Turkey, Ukraine and Switzerland. This year, in addition to the traditional exhibition sectors, new areas will be presented for the first time: Coatings – Corrosion-Resistant Pipeline Coatings and Welding in the Oil and Gas Industry. Thus, the organizers are aiming to demonstrate the whole range of technology used in the construction of oil and gas pipelines and oil storage depots.

Permanent participants in the exhibition include: NC Kazmunaigaz, Tengizchevroil, NCOC, Packer, Ozna, Atyrauneftemash, Wika Kazakhstan, Caspian Offshore Construction, West Dala, Evrospetsarmatura, Netzsch Pumpen & Systeme Gmbh, Votkinsky Plant, Motovilikhisnky Plant, Astel, Radian and many others. Companies participating in the exhibition for the first time include Schneider Electric, Kosmos-Neft-Gaz, MARSHALL, Lugansky Pipeline Valve Plant.

Participants in the OILTECH Atyrau 2014 exhibition will also include key oil-production and service companies, oil processing and petrochemical plants from Austria, Belarus, Germany, Kazakhstan, the Netherlands and Russia.

The two-day conference program covers issues including the development of oil-and-gas fields on marine shelves, increasing oil yield, industrial safety and state environmental control and the development of oil processing and petrochemistry. Special attention was paid to the topic of drilling technologies. Within the framework of the geological exploration seminar, the latest achievements in the area of oil-and-gas geology are discussed in detail and the most current projects are reviewed.

The speakers at the conference include top managers of leading companies: NC KazMunaiGaz JSC, Tengizchevroil, KazNIGRI JSC, Gazpromneft OJSC, Denton, Lukoil-Nizhnevolzhkneft LLP, OKhK URALKHIM OJSC, as well as members of professional unions and associations.

The sponsors of the oil-and-gas events are NCOC, Lotis, Endress+Hauser, Aarti Industries Ltd, FEI and Hempel.

Over 40 exhibitors are participating in the "Atyrau Build 2014", 80% of which represent local companies in sections on: Construction, Interior, Heating and Ventilation, Windows, Doors and Façades, Ceramics and Stone, Road Building.

In his welcome address to the participants at the exhibition, Baktykozha Izmukhambetov, Atyrau Oblast Akim said, "The current quality requirements for the construction of buildings and structures means that new construction technologies, including energy-efficient developments will have to be used. In light of the current policy for accelerated industrial and innovative development in the sector and economic diversification, the construction industry plays a no less important role that the oil and gas sector. The socioeconomic status of the country and region will improve significantly thanks to the development of the industry. In particular, the construction of numerous industrial house-building factory facilities will facilitate job creation and citizen welfare. I'm pleased to announce that both local and international construction industry manufacturers will take part in the exhibition."

Participation in the Atyrau Oil & Gas 2014 and the Atyrau Build 2014 exhibitions will make it possible to strengthen partnership relations, expand contacts for reaching mutually beneficial goals and to research and analyze the outside while evaluating supply and demand in the segment in which participants operate. Over a short period of time and at one location, visitors will have the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the most widely varied equipment and services, compare the products offered, receive specialist consultations in live conversation, establish business contacts and sign contracts.

Official event websites: www.oil-gas.kz; www.atyraubuild.kz.