The International Oil Exhibition, arranged by the Opec summit organising committee, will take place at the King Faisal Hall at the Intercontinental Hotel in Riyadh from November 13 to 16, 2007.

This will be followed by a ministerial symposium for the governments of Opec member countries.

This four-day exhibition will feature prominent exhibitors, including national oil companies of Opec member nations, major international oil companies such as ExxonMobil, Chevron, Nippon Oil and Shell, among many others along with business and cultural exhibitions from Opec member nations.

In addition to showcasing oil capabilities from member states and oil companies, cultural exhibitions will be organised by member countries. The cultural exhibitions are another mechanism through which cultural exchange and understanding is being promoted among Opec states.

Additionally, the ministerial symposium will bring together Opec ministers, influential Opec and industry leaders and some of the world’s leading petroleum industry analysts to discuss global oil and gas markets, the future of oil in the global energy mix, energy and the environment, energy for sustainable development and the key role Opec plays in the global economy.

Among the prominent industry leaders and analysts confirmed for participation in the symposium are: Abdullah Bin Hamad Al Attiyah, deputy prime minister, minister of energy & industry, Qatar; Dr Hussain Al-Shahristani, minister of oil, Iraq; Gholamhossein Nozari, acting minister of petroleum, Islamic Republic of Iran; Abdalla Salem El-Badri, current Opec secretary General; Dr Daniel Howard Yergin, chairman, Cambridge Energy Research Associates (CERA) and Dr John Vernon Mitchell, Royal Institute for International Affairs, UK.

Extending on the ideals of cultural exchange, the Opec summit organising committee has invited prominent journalists and opinion leaders from around the world, to enjoy an unprecedented opportunity to tour strategic areas within Saudi Arabia, visit premier industrial facilities and talk with CEOs and other top corporate executives. Journalists have the option of visiting all four of the tour destinations or selecting the ones which interest them most. The tours will precede the Third Opec Summit and be held from November 11 to 14.

The four tours will consist of visits to: The Makkah Province, which includes a stop in Rabigh to visit PetroRabigh and the old souk in Jeddah; The Riyadh Province, which includes a stop by King Abdul Aziz City of Science & Technology, SABIC headquarters and King Abdul Aziz Cultural Center and National Museum; The Eastern Province, this includes a tour of Jubail Industrial City and Saudi Aramco headquarters in Dhahran; and finally Rub’ Al-Khali Province which will include a tour of Saudi Aramco’s Shaybah production facilities.-TradeArabia News Service