Offshore Europe a hit with delegation
The Western Australian Government European Trade Office in conjunction with the Departments of Commerce, State Development and Training and Workforce Development and the Australian Marine Complex, has wrapped up another successful Offshore Europe Oil and Gas Conference and Exhibition.
The conference, held in Aberdeen attracted more than 1,500 companies and thousands of visitors over the course of the three day event.
The Western Australian Government’s busy stand was staffed by Senior Trade and Investment Manager Stuart Russell and Paul Mercer from the Department of Commerce. Manager Skilled Migration, Jarrod Ferguson, representing the Department of Training and Workforce Development also worked on the stand providing information on skilled migration options to the many who were enquiring about working in WA and the delegation of Western Australian companies also spent time at the stand.
Mrs Sanderson delivered a presentation entitled Western Australia: Growth and Opportunities and encouraged those present to visit Perth for the Australasian Oil and Gas Exhibition to be held in Perth in February next year and to look at opportunities to partner with WA companies. To view the presentation click here.
A delegation of almost two dozen Western Australian business leaders also attended the Conference and Exhibition. The group was made up of executives from Civmec Construction and Engineering, Diversified Exhibitions Australia, BAE Systems Australia, Eilbeck Cranes Australia, GMA Garnet, Hertel Modern Offshore, Industry Capability Network Western Australia, Australian Project Management, Oceaneering Australia, Matrix Composites & Engineering, Rig Inspection Services, Open Door Migration, Vigil Antislip, Westralian Engineering Services, Velocious and Peak Well Systems.
Senior Trade and Investment Manager Stuart Russell said the event was a unique opportunity for all those involved to meet a number of companies and discuss supply chain issues as well as opportunities to work more closely together.
“Offshore Europe is one of the most significant Oil and Gas conferences in the world and offered the delegates a brilliant opportunity to meet face to face with industry representatives from Europe,” he said. ‘The companies involved were very pleased with the large number of contacts made in Aberdeen.’
After the conference the delegation spent two days in London attending a briefing with British Chemical Engineering Contractors Association and the Energy Industries Council as well as having meetings with a number of large companies involved in the industry. The group then travelled to Rotterdam, and to The Hague before heading to Paris for more meetings with industry experts.
Bill Hare from Diversified Exhibitions Australia, which presents the Australasian Oil and Gas Exhibition and Conference, said the visit was a success.
“Offshore Europe afforded me an excellent opportunity to make new contacts and strengthen existing networks which will certainly lead to new business from all over the world but especially from the UK,” he said.
“Being part of the Western Australian delegation added much value through the sharing of contacts, and through the organized networking events such as the Scotland seminar and Lord Provost function.”
“Many thanks to Paul Mercer from the Department of Commerce for his meticulous organisation of the delegation and to the wonderful support from the WAGO office led by Kerry Sanderson and Stuart Russell.”
During their visit the meetings with senior representatives from several Engineering Procurement Construction and Management (EPCM) companies were designed to raise awareness about Western Australia’s capacity to provide engineering and construction skills and support to a broad range of developments being planned in the state.
Earlier this month, the Agent General Kerry Sanderson gave a presentation at the 10th annual International Oil and Gas conference in Oslo, Norway. The presentation, titled ‘How to invest in Western Australia’ focussed on growth in WA and encouraged those present to adopt investment partnerships with companies in the state. To view the Agent General’s presentation, click here.
For more information about the 2012 Australasian Oil and Gas Exhibition and Conference click here.
IMAGE 1: L-R Jarrod Ferguson, Manager, Skilled Migration European Trade Office, Agent General Kerry Sanderson AO and Jill Stajdur, Business Development Manager, Energy and Minerals Institute, University of Western Australia
IMAGE 2: L-R Stuart Russell, Senior Trade and Investment Manager European Trade Office, Callum McCraig Aberdeen Councillor, Lord Provost of Aberdeen, Kerry Sanderson AO, Agent General WA and Paul Mercer, Department of Commerce
