The 11th International Exhibition OGU 2007 (Oil and gas Uzbekistan) and Conference will be held in Tashkent on 15-17 May.

OGU 2007 will be 30% larger than the previous year, which demonstrates the increasing interest in the Uzbekistan market shown by companies all around the world. Over 142 companies will take part in the event from 18 countries: Austria, Germany, Netherlands, France, Poland, Czech Republic, Turkey, Iran, United Arab Emirates, China, USA, Malaysia, Indonesia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.

Uzbekistan is a key supplier of natural gas. It is the third largest extractor of natural gas in the CIS and benefits from a large proportion of the fuel and power in the Central Asian region. Liberalisation of the Uzbek economy and a favourable investment climate aimed at developing all branches of the economy have enabled construction, reconstruction and modernisation within the oil and gas sector, financed by foreign investment and domestic oil and gas resources.

A large part of the exhibition will be reserved for state-of-the-art technology for the production and high-level processing of oil and gas. Leading oil and gas companies will also present their latest achievements with regard to technology for transporting oil and gas, field exploration and development, and developments in geodynamics and hydrocarbonaceous potential in the Central Asian region.

An international conference entitled: "Oil and gas industry of Uzbekistan: trends of development and prospects for cooperation" will be held alongside the exhibition on 16-17 May 2007 at the Intercontinental Hotel in Tashkent. Confirmed participants include representatives of the subdivisions of Uzbekneftegaz National Holding Company, as well as leading scientists from the CIS and other countries around the world, including high-level representatives of government organisations from Uzbekistan and abroad, and heads of large Uzbek and international companies. Over two days, more than 400 delegates will discuss issues relating to the enhanced development of hydrocarbon deposits, the use of alternative energy sources, and the prospects for the Uzbek oil and gas industry.

The exhibition is officially supported by Uzbekneftegaz, Ministry for Foreign Economic Relations, Investments and Trade of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Tashkent City administration and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Event Director, Julia Romanenko, says, "We are delighted at the increase in size of OGU this year. The Uzbek market is becoming increasingly attractive to foreign investors due to its vast resources and strengthening economy. The OGU exhibition offers companies the opportunity to gain a better understanding of the market and make large numbers of contacts that are invaluable when expanding into a new market such as Uzbekistan. I am particularly looking forward to seeing the new technology that will be available to the market this year."