gasworld’s flagship event has been and remains our MENA Industrial Gas Conference, which has been held in the UAE since our first ever conference in 2007. Twelve years on and the region has experienced huge change in both supply models and actual demand for industrial, medical and special gases.

We have seen the significant entry of the major gas companies such as Air Products, Air Liquide, Linde, Messer and Praxair. These companies have not only focused on the major onsite projects that have arisen across the region but have acquired positions in the merchant market as well.

There are now changes happening at the customer level, with the large energy companies focusing on downstream oil and natural gas – giving rise to more investment projects at tonnage gas consumption levels, but also impacting on the demand for merchant industrial gases.

As such, gasworld believes it is right to address the business models and the applications that are right for gas companies and for their customers, and believe the theme Business Models Fit for Purpose, will attract both small and medium-sized enterprises across the region but also the major gas companies and end-users to learn, question and debate the future drivers for the region.

We will address the questions being asked of us, such as:

• What impact will the focus on downstream projects have on our business?
• What opportunities exist at the medium to large project scale end-users of gas?
• How can independents capture some of this growth in the region?
• What are the hot topic merchant gas applications of today and tomorrow?
• Will the combination of economic and political influences be positive for our business?

The MENA Industrial Gas Conference 2019 will tackle the above topics through a series of progressive speaker sessions, insightful debate, and engaging networking opportunities.

The MENA region is somewhat polarised in that the medium to large onsite projects are the domain of the major gas companies, but the merchant gases business and growth applications are important to the independent operators. We will strike the right balance by addressing the differing business models that should deliver benefits for all stakeholders.

During the afternoon sessions we also provide an exhibition booth programme, where attendees can visit technology and service providers to discuss the solutions that will support their company’s business model and strategy in this region of real opportunity. We will also for the first time introduce a closing keynote talk to conclude the event, from eminent helium expert Phil Kornbluth, who will leave delegates richer in knowledge and insight about the future direction of the global helium business – one of the hottest topics today for the gases industry and helium end-users.