The region s biggest and most important gas and oil event, the Abu Dhabi Internati onal

Petroleum Exhibition and Conference, or Adipec, gets underway in Abu Dhabi today, which for the first time in its history is set to welcome more than 50,00 0 energy professionals from 80 countries around the world. The Abu Dhabi Nationa l Exhibition Centre will host the event until November 13. Held under the patronage of the President, His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and supported by the Ministry of Energy, Abu Dhabi National Oil Comp any and the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Adipec has drawn glo bal energy leaders, policy makers, innovators, technicians and research scholars to the UAE capital. Under the theme Energy for all in a Changing World , the event will address the key challenges and opportunities of an evolving energy industry with a special focu s on the increasingly important role of gas in the energy mix. The pressing need to encourage women and young people to pursue careers in the industry will also be addressed at the four-day event. UAE Minister of Energy Suhail bin Mohamed Faraj Fares Al Mazrouei, Greg Barker f rom the UK, Dr Mohammed bin Hamad Al Rumhy from Oman and Dr M. Veerappa Moily f rom India are among the energy ministers confirmed to participate in a ministeri al panel. Mohammed A. Sahoo AlSuwaidi, director of the Gas Directorate at Adnoc and Adipec 2013 chairman, said: This year s exhibition and conference will serve as a watersh ed for Abu Dhabi in highlighting its role as a global energy leader. The Adipec is a platform designed to serve the needs of the industry, shining a light on ke y issues and facilitating the process of identifying innovative solutions. Abu D habi is a proven, responsible and increasingly diversified energy leader and an important contributor to the global dialogue. This week, we welcome more than 50,000 energy executives including some of the wo rld s key energy leaders to discuss everything from the future of the energy mix t o talent management. The UAE has rarely hosted a collection of more prominent in dustry experts. I look forward to witnessing the valuable contribution Adipec ma kes to the global energy industry, and to the development and ongoing diversific ation of our economy. The 16th edition of the event includes an expanded technical conference and a ne w dedicated business conference at which CEOs from the world s biggest energy comp anies will present and discuss global energy security, as well as issues related to the modernisation of infrastructure, and the need for an efficient supply va lue-chain for sustainable development of the sector and the economy as a whole. Critically, Adipec will, for the first time, focus on the important role of wome n in the gas and oil industry through a dedicated women-in-industry panel. It wi ll also feature Young Adipec , a comprehensive programme of events outreach and edu cation designed to encourage the industry s future leaders. Young Adipec will be h eld under the patronage of Shaikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Cult ure, Youth and Community Development. Both themes will form new categories at th e Adipec Awards, winners of which will be announced during a ceremony today host ed by Adnoc.