As earlier reported, this year, OGU is dedicated to the 125th anniversary to commercial oil mining in Uzbekistan. The first oil wells were opened in Uzbekistan 125 years ago.

The OGU is organized by the international exhibition company ITE Uzbekistan, member of UFI, and its partners I.T.E. Exhibitions & Conference Ltd. (UK), ITE Moscow, GIMA (Germany) and ITE China.

Yelena Popova, head of OGU project, said at the press conference in Tashkent that the area of the OGU exhibition expanded despite instable economic situation in the world. She said that over 190 companies from 28 countries participate at the OGU 2010.

Among participants are companies from Azerbaijan, Belgium, Great Britain, Germany, Indonesia, Iran, Spain, Italy, Kazakhstan, China, etc.

Popova underlined that 18% of participants are from Uzbekistan, 43% from the CIS states and 40% from other countries. Among participants are such international companies as Lukoil (Russia), Gazprom (Russia), Petronas (Malaysia), Sasol (South Africa), Sercel (France) and others.

Pietro Fiorentini, Tekser, KwangShin, Sperin Proetection Europe, Metso and Sinopec are debutants of the exhibition, ITE Uzbekistan said.

Issues of expanding international cooperation and existing potential in oil and gas industry were considered at the roundtable “Perspectives of oil and gas sector of Central Asia in context of modern global-financial processes”. Center for Political Studies and Uzbekneftegaz organized the event.

At the second day, 12 May, annual oil and gas exhibition titled “Investments and innovations in oil and gas sector of Uzbekistan” will start at Intercontinental Hotel.

Participants will discuss state support, new business strategy, investments into oil and gas sector of Uzbekistan in the contest of global economic processes. Energy security, international cooperation, including within the Navoi free industrial and economic zone, will be also considered.