300 top businessmen meet at IIOGE in Bali
The Jakarta Post, Nusa Dua, Bali
More than 300 top business players and decision makers from 12 countries will meet here from Saturday to Sunday to discuss various issues in the energy sector at the third Indonesian International Oil, Gas and Energy (IIOGE).
Officially opened by President Megawati Soekarnoputri on Friday morning, the meeting was preceded by the 20th ASEAN Ministers on Energy Meeting (AMEM).
"The IIOGE annual conference is Indonesia's leading international forum for both the domestic and international organizations to explore opportunities that exist within the energy and mineral resources sector," Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Purnomo Yusgiantoro said at the opening ceremony.
IIOGE is a forum hosted by state-owned oil company Pertamina, state gas distribution company PGN and state-owned electricity company PLN to promote business opportunities in the country's energy sector.
This year's IIOGE conference will focus upon the regulatory, marketing, social, technological and financial issues in the energy industry.
Issues that will be discussed include Indonesia's strategies to meet Asia's energy demands, Indonesia's energy initiative for the year 2002-2003 and its strategy to balance the central and regional government authority,
On Saturday, the conference will start with a keynote speech by Emir Moeis, member of the House of Representatives' Commission VIII for energy and mineral resources, environment, science and technology.
Minister Purnomo will deliver his presentation titled: Maintaining Indonesia's position as the Preferred Supplier of Liquid Natural Gas (LNG).
Other speakers are OPEC's secretary-general Alvaro Silva Caladron, who will, via a live video link, present a paper titled OPEC's Ongoing Contribution to Stability and Cooperation in Asia; and Deputy Minister of Energy of Russian Federation Oleg Georgievich Gordeev, who will read a paper titled: Russia's Growing Influence in the Asian Energy Sector.
Concurrent with the conference, there will be an exhibition featuring manufacturers, suppliers, contractors and service providers of oil, gas, and mineral resources.