Asean to attract global players in oil industry

Being one of the high growth centers in terms of global energy and petroleum consumption, the ASEAN region, including the Philippines, will continue to attract the attention of the global players in the oil and gas industry, a visiting ASEAN Council on Petroleum (ASCOPE) official said.

ASCOPE organizing committee chairman Tuan Haji Zohari Shaharun of Malaysia said this is the reason why the ASEAN oil players should look for ways to respond to the changing industry trends and developments.

"The global oil and gas industry has witnessed many significant events in the last decade or so. ASEAN has not been spared of these global developments," the ASCOPE official said, in his speech during the official announcement of the 7th ASCOPE conference held in Manila recently.

According to him, there are many challenges that the ASEAN countries will be facing in the new millennium. "For this reason we have aptly chosen an appropriate theme for the upcoming conference and exhibition," he said.

He said they will zero in on the future of the oil and natural gas industry in the region in their upcoming ASCOPE conference in Kuala Lumpur on Nov. 5-8 this year.

With the theme "Forging Towards a New Order in the Oil & Gas Industry", he said the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) secretary general Dr. Ali Rodriguez Arague will also share valuable insights on energy security from a global perspective.

He said that Morgan Stanley managing director Thomas Langford will deliver from the banking industry’s perspective, financial strategies on how to make ASCOPE a major player in the oil and gas industry.

According to the official, more than 40 presentations and conference papers will be discussed by distinguished oil and gas authorities.

ASCOPE will not only serve as an avenue to promote cooperation among its members but it will also offer opportunities to meet face-to-face decision-makers and industry leaders, display corporate profiles, products and services.

ASCOPE was established on Oct. 15, 1975 in Jakarta, Indonesia. Its founding members include: Indonesia (Pertamina), Thailand (PTT), Philippines (PNOC), Singapore (SPC), and Malaysia (Petronas). At least four more countries have been added to the group. These are: Brunei (Petroleum Unit, PM Dept.), Vietnam (Petro Vietnam), Myanmar (MOGE), and Cambodia (CNPA).