MIOGE 2015 OPENED

The 13th Moscow International Oil and Gas Exhibition, MIOGE 2015, opened in Expocenter under the sunshine on the banks of the Moscow River in the Russian capital. The grand opening ceremony in Pavilion No. 1 was attended a significant number of VIP government officials and industry specialists including, Russia's Deputy Energy Minister Kirill Molodtsov, State Duma deputy, State Duma Energy Committee chairman Pavel Zavalny and deputy director of the Metal Processing, Tool-Building and Heavy Machinery Dept. of Russia's Industry and Trade Ministry Sergei Kononenko, State Duma deputy, State Duma Energy Committee first deputy chairman Vasily Tarasyuk, Oil and Gas Industrialists Union President Genady Shmal, Russian Geology Society President, adviser to the chairman of the Federation Council, Bashneft board member Viktor Orlov, VNIPIneft general director Vladimir Kapustin, head of Expocenter's Guest Exhibition and Foreign Projects Directorate Elena Shabardina and ITE general director Alexander Shtalenkov.

Deputy Energy Minister Kirill Molodtsov was the first to take the microphone and address the attendees: "These events (the exhibition and congress — ed.) which have been held since 1992, are practically the main sector events to have shown themselves worthy as a place for specialists to meet and discuss topics pertinent to the industry which concern the development of the Russian oil and gas industry", Molodtsov said.

The Deputy Energy Minister continued, noting that the MIOGE events were aimed at solving immediate problems in the industry such as forming stable demand at Russian oil and gas companies for Russian-manufactured goods, localizing production and replacing imported technologies. "We have used them for a long and successful time, but now we understand that our own manufacturers can satisfy the growing demand for new technologies", he added.

In concluding his remarks, the Molodtsov wished all MIOGE visitors stable growth and growth in demand for the goods their companies manufacture and supply. "I want today's event to allow us to reach new clients and suppliers and to find new solutions which will allow us to solve tasks facing the industry and the country. Congratulations on the grand opening!", he said.

After Molodtsov, Pavel Zavalny took the floor. "Today this exhibition brings together over 700 companies from 30 countries around the world. The oil and gas complex in our country helps to fill the coffers of the treasury; over 50% of revenue comes from oil and gas as does 70% of hard currency revenue and that allows the country to develop", he said, "The future of the development of our country's economy depends on how the oil and gas industry develops and this is especially important today under the condition of economic sanctions. The objective of the exhibition here is to showcase the best achievements in equipment manufacturing and technology which will allow us to grow the sector and in the future solve the task which face our oil and gas industry".

Genady Shmal called MIOGE 2015 a genuine parade of achievements in the Russian oil and gas industry and machine tooling. "Despite the - plotting of our foes, Russian industry has not perished! Moreover, completely new types of equipment have appeared — drill bits and slide valves and more...", the president of the Oil and Gas Industrialists Union said.

In addition, Shmal noted that the current format of the MIOGE 2015 forum coincided with a 70 anniversary of Russia's victory in the Great Patriotic War in the last century. "Our industry played a huge role in that victory. That war was a battle of motors and motors without fuel are only good for showing in museums. Consequently, oil really was the life blood of victory and our oilmen contributed greatly to that victory", Shmal said.

At the end of the opening ceremony, the director of the organizing company, Alexander Shtalenkov spoke briefly to those gathered on the grounds.

"On behalf of the organizers of this event — the international exhibition company ITE, I welcome all of MIOGE guests and participants. I would like to thank all of our honored guests who have taken part in today's opening ceremony and also all of the government officials, professional unions and public organizations who have so regularly supported our exhibition for so many years", Shtalenkov said, after which the participants in the event cut the red ribbon according to tradition. And so MIOGE 2015 is open! 

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