Neftegaz 2018 Opens at Expocentre Fairgrounds

The International Exhibition for Equipment and Technologies for the Oil and Gas Industries, Neftegaz 2018, has opened at Expocentre Fairgrounds. This year the trade show celebrates its 40-year anniversary.  

Neftegaz ranks in the top ten of the world’s oil and gas trade shows. It is held by Expocentre AO in partnership with Messe Dusseldorf GmbH (Germany), with support of the Russian Ministry of Energy, Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade, VDMA (Germany), and under auspices of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.    

Conducting the opening ceremony, General Director of Expocentre Sergey Bednov said that Neftegaz had been named the best brand of 2017 as the most efficient trade show. He also noted that government support, participation of major companies, full market coverage and supporting events for industry professionals made Neftegaz the main event of the Russian oil and gas and petrochem industries. 

This year Neftegaz welcomes 534 companies from 25 countries. Russian and foreign manufacturers and suppliers of oil and gas equipment, oil and gas producers and processors, oilfield services and exploration companies occupy more than 31,000 sq m to show their accomplishments, latest developments and technologies.  China, Czechia and Germany have national pavilions.   

There are 330 Russian exhibitors which include oil and gas producers, equipment manufacturers and service companies. 

Russian Deputy Minister of Energy Kirill Molodtsov read a welcome address of the Russian Minister of Energy Alexander Novak to all participants in Neftegaz 2018 which for the fourth time is co-located with the National Oil and Gas Forum.

"The co-location of the trade show and the forum created the industry's largest showcase and networking platform. It allows demonstrating the latest technological developments and solutions for the oil and gas industry and the fuel and energy sector as a whole, as well as discussing the most relevant issues and find solutions to them," said the minister in his welcome address. He also expressed his confidence that recognized experts and the market's leading players – the exhibitors at Neftegaz 2018 and the National Oil and Gas Forum – would make important recommendations of practical value.

President of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Sergey Katyrin highlighted the all-round importance of Neftegaz and its topics for the Russian economy. According to him, the list of exhibitors shows that economic relations and partnerships with foreign colleagues and partners stay the same, negative external factors notwithstanding. Mr. Katyrin said, "Eighty percent of exhibitors, including our foreign partners, are regular participants. They also regularly take part in the National Oil and Gas Forum which is a very important part of the whole event. It gives everybody an opportunity to network and exchange opinions. In the midst of a very complicated environment around Russia people can talks about how to cooperate, work together now and in the future."    

"Neftegaz has become the main meeting place for all those working in the oil and gas industry as evidenced by a large number of this year's exhibitors. I am glad to see that all companies which have come this year genuinely believe in the continuation and expansion in the existing relations and partnerships," said Erhard Wienkamp, Executive Director of Messe Dusseldorf GmbH. He also personally thanked General Director of Expocentre Sergey Bednov for a reliable partnership and cooperation.  

President of the Russian Chemists Union Viktor Ivanov wished all exhibitors every success and fruitful meetings.