BP on behalf of its co-venturers in the Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli (ACG), Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC), Shah Deniz (SD), and South Caucasus Pipeline (SCP) is hosting today “Meet the Buyer” event, which is held in the Hyatt Conference Centre in an exhibition format. The event is part of BP’s and its co-venturers’ commitment to helping local companies increase their participation in BP-operated projects through enhancing their capabilities, developing their business and building relationship with their potential clients.
The “Meet the Buyer” event is specifically designed to provide an opportunity for local companies to present their products and services to potential buyers. It provides an arena for a large group of local companies to meet leading international and local companies active in the oil and gas industry supply chain. This is a chance for local companies to present directly what they can offer to their potential buyers like BP and other major international firms. On the other hand the event also provides a good opportunity for potential buyers to test the local market and find out what is available for them locally.
Some 90 local companies representing business services, operations support, engineering, construction, logistics, waste management and other categories are taking part in the event. These are the companies that are participants in the multi-million dollar Enterprise Development and Training Programme (EDTP) sponsored by BP and its co-venturers. In addition, some 50 companies and organisations are taking part as potential buyers.
Addressing the event Paul Evans, BP’s Contract Execution Manager, said: “We are pleased to be able to provide this exciting opportunity to local companies. We believe this is the first event of this kind organized in the region by BP and its co-venturers. Increasing participation of local companies in our operations is our strategic goal. To achieve this goal we assist Azerbaijan-based companies in developing their business in support of major oil and gas developments in the region - that is why we established various programmes including the Enterprise Development and Training Programme 3 years ago. Up to 90 local companies have completed the programme so far - 17 of them have been specifically successful having already won $65 million worth BP contracts creating new jobs and investment opportunities. They are currently supporting BP in running its operations in Azerbaijan and Georgia.
“BP set a target more than 5 years ago to double its total local spend in Azerbaijan to $1 billion a year, which includes direct and indirect spend through international contractors. I am pleased to say that we achieved this target in 2009 and we remain committed to continuing our support to developing the local market.”
Further information about the event and BP and its co-venturers’ local enterprise development programmes can be found at www.ecbaku.com
Tamam Bayatly at BP’s Press Office in Baku, telephone: +994 12 599 4557