It gives me pleasure to welcome you today in the State of Qatar on the occasion of the convening of the First World Conference on Petroleum Technologies which is unique in its kind considering the experience and caliber of participants and the importance of the topics on its agenda and their close link with global growth and human progress.

      We are honoured to host this conference and hope that its benefits would be reflected on the world petroleum industry to the interest of all parties associated with this industry or affected by it, particularly as this conference provides an opportunity for technology experts to meet and review the challenges faced by the oil and gas industry, exchange the experience acquired in this field as well as the cooperation among specialized and well-established associations which will make the conference a significant occasion for forming committees with clear tasks as well as developing special technological programs.

      The holding of this conference under the title “Support of Global Growth – Technology and Man” stresses the significance of future goals of the oil and gas industry, highlights the role of this industry in the world economy, and shows the importance of achieving progress in the technological field as well as the importance of taking the ecological and human factor into consideration.

      The State of Qatar has made substantial steps in the field of industrial and economic development, and its economic activity became the most growing in the region. The average per capita income rose to become one of the highest in the world, and the State paid special attention to training and competence to be able to use the advanced technology in the exploitation of oil and liquefaction and transportation of gas.

      Hence, our priorities in the coming period should be directed to creative executive work and improvement of management and work systems in the State organs as a fundamental requirement to push forward development efforts and step up the efficiency of public utilities and regulate the quality and cost of their services. For this end, the State has recently embarked on freeing some important sectors and utilities from the restrictions and rules of governmental work procedures, either by turning government organs into public authorities and corporations with a great deal of independence that adopt more dynamic systems of management, or by setting up free zones and financial centers with systems that are consistent with international standards.

Honourable Brothers,

      The holding of this conference comes a few weeks after the commissioning of the first phase of Gulf Gas Project which would contribute to meeting the country’s needs of the gas required for various industries and power and water desalination plants.

      It also comes just before the official opening of the fourth train of liquefied natural gas at RasGas II which, when completed, would bring up production to 77 million tons annually, thus making the State of Qatar the top supplier of liquefied natural gas in the world.

      Few months from now the State of Qatar will witness the commissioning of Oryx Project which is the biggest gas-to-liquids project in the world. Expansion work is going on in our various petrochemical projects which depend on gas; hence we now have a distinctive position in this domain world-wide.

      All these successes could not have been achieved without our endeavour to use state-of-the-art technologies in liquefying and transporting gas and in particular those methods relevant to reducing costs.

      Qatar was facing a big challenge due to being far away from the gas consuming areas and due to the nature of gas itself. It was imperative to apply the best methods of changing gas- to- liquids and transporting and exporting it at the lowest possible costs.

      Regarding oil, we are in the process of expanding the reserve base and increasing production capacity from its current levels, to help meet the growing demand on crude oil, without overlooking any possible opportunity to developing the use of advanced technology on various fields.

Honourable Audience,

      The State of Qatar which is blessed with the third biggest gas reserves in the world is committed to pursue its leading role in supplying the world with its needs of gas as one of the cleanest sources of energy. In 2010, the State of Qatar’s share would account for one third of the world market’s needs of liquefied natural gas, which contributes to environmental conservation and reducing pollution levels.

      In the course of our march to realize optimum use of our natural resources, we shall carry on with our policies that are based on developing the infrastructure, supporting private investment, increasing openness, pursuing the course of reform and providing the necessary legislations in support of such approaches to realize the State’s interests and in the meantime ensures the balance between the interests of the producers and the consumers.

      In conclusion, I wish your conference all success, and the honourable guests of Qatar a pleasant stay.

May the peace, the mercy and blessings of God be upon you.