First-ever Energy Exports Conference to be held in Aberdeen

The Energy Industries Council (EIC), the leading trade association for companies that supply goods and services to the global energy industries, has confirmed that it is working with industry partners including Opportunity North East (ONE) on a major new energy conference and exhibition to take place at the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre on 18 and 19 June 2019.

EIC is developing the first ever Energy Exports Conference with event partners: the Oil & Gas Authority; Scottish Development International; Scottish Enterprise; the Department for International Trade; UK Export Finance, ONE Oil, Gas & Energy and Oil & Gas UK.

The purpose of the Energy Exports Conference is to support UK supply chain companies to accelerate export growth of their products and services to international markets.

It will also provide practical advice and market intelligence to enable suppliers to the oil and gas sector to diversify into other energy sectors, such as offshore wind or nuclear.

The inaugural Energy Exports Conference will consist of two parallel conference programmes and an exhibition and is expected to attract at least 1,500 UK supply chain delegates and buyers from worldwide energy projects.

The Global Opportunities Conference programme will host 20 speakers from major international operators and contractors responsible for some of the world’s largest energy projects. It is estimated that more than US$150bn worth of project opportunities will be presented to delegates over the two days, with a special focus from presenters on the specific supply chain gaps they are looking to fill with UK content. The speakers will cover oil and gas as well as power and renewable projects, highlighting core and diversification opportunities for oil and gas suppliers.

An Inspiring Exports Conference session will also take place, which will introduce delegates to agencies who offer funding, tools and advice to support companies of all sizes to export successfully. Participating in this session will be representatives from Scottish Development International, Scottish Enterprise, the Department for International Trade, UK Export Finance and Opportunity North East. The goal of this programme is to encourage first time and growing exporters to accelerate their scale-up plans and to provide them with access to expert advice and networks.
The event’s exhibition hall will host over 70 stands and has already attracted the attention of procurement specialists from numerous countries keen to make the most of the opportunity to meet with leading UK suppliers.

Trevor Garlick, Chair of the ONE Oil, Gas and Energy sector board, said, “Doubling the value of exports from the oil, gas and energy supply chain is a regional and national priority and is fundamental to achieving the industry’s Vision 2035 ambition for UKCS production and international growth in our high-value supply chain. Anchoring the oil, gas and energy supply chain in north-east Scotland for the long-term is an absolute priority for ONE and supporting companies to increase their exports or to start exporting is a key action for us. This event will bring some of the world’s largest energy projects to the region, enable the supply chain to engage with these opportunities and inspire the next generation of exporters to enter the global oil, gas and energy market. This is an important, practical step towards unlocking the internationalisation prize for our supply chain and one that we anticipate that companies of all sizes will fully engage in.”

EIC CEO Stuart Broadley said, “The potential for the UK energy supply chain to export is remarkable, yet so few companies currently are investing in export growth. Recent EIC studies show that companies prefer to grow using other strategies such as innovation, collaboration and diversification, and particularly in the recent downturn less than 10% exported their way out of the crisis. Considering the phenomenal results that exporting can achieve, it’s surprising, with Brexit looming, it’s worrying.

“At the EIC we are committed to supporting businesses to grow and expand into new markets. This major new event, supported by our partners, will bring over US$150bn of global project opportunities to Aberdeen with UK capability estimated at being able to cover between US$80-100bn of these projects’ product and service requirements – an incredible amount.

“There’s a whole world of opportunity out there for the UK supply chain. This event is going to make sure delegates know where the opportunities are for their business and how to go about winning that work, wherever it may be.”

Andy Samuel, OGA Chief Executive, said, “Vision 2035 sets out a bold but realistic opportunity for maximising the economic recovery from the UK Continental Shelf and for doubling the value of exports from our service sector to markets around the world. Achieving this growth in exports will require investment, innovation and collaboration, learning from where the UK already leads the way and ensuring the supply chain is anchored in the UK for the long-term. The 2019 Energy Exports Conference is most timely and we look forward to an outstanding event.”

Ewen Cameron, Head of Trade and Investment: Energy at Scottish Development International, said, “We are delighted to work in collaboration with the EIC and our partners to support the first Energy Exports Conference. Forging new partnerships that identify, nurture and deliver new export opportunities for Scottish businesses is essential to the country’s long-term economic well-being. The conference creates a new platform to showcase the support available when targeting growth in new markets to a domestic energy supply chain that has a great track record of building strong international networks and increasing its export base.”

Baroness Fairhead, Minister for Trade and Export Promotion at the Department for International Trade, said, “The energy sector is a significant contributor to the UK economy, providing outstanding opportunities for a range of British companies. The Energy Exports Conference will provide businesses with a vital new way to build relationships with operators and contractors on some of the world’s largest energy projects, ultimately accelerating the growth of products and services. The conference will highlight how the Department for International Trade and UK Export Finance support UK exporters and suppliers to exporters, including through export and trade finance and insurance, as well as showcasing the flexible and competitive financing solutions on offer to overseas buyers purchasing from the UK. The Department for International Trade is dedicated to helping UK companies – both large and small – to realise these global opportunities for British companies so is delighted to support this event.”

Matt Abraham, Oil & Gas UK’s Supply Chain Director, said, “Our innovative and resilient supply chain has unrivalled experience in optimising operations on the UK Continental Shelf and supports one of the most technologically advanced and diverse basins in the world. The conference provides an ideal opportunity to showcase this hard-won capability, helping our members to explore the potential for exporting their expertise, grow their share of the global market and diversify into other industrial sectors.”

For more information on this event, to find out about sponsorship opportunities or register your interest please visit the EIC website.