ABUJA, Nigeria, January 26, 2016/APO (African Press Organization)/ —
A Scottish Oil Gas delegation is in Nigeria from 25-28 January 2016. The aim of the visit is to gain a good understanding of local market conditions and to look for potential local partners interested in enhancing their own offer by linking up with a Scotland-based company. The group is participating in the Offshore West Africa conference and exhibition at the Eko Hotel and Suites from 26-28 January and promoting the strengths of the country’s very large oil and gas supply chain via a Scotland Pavilion.
Scottish Development International (SDI) is the international economic development arm of Government in Scotland and provides a broad range of services to support companies and institutions to help them develop their overseas business. SDI also helps overseas businesses tap into Scotland’s key strengths in innovation, knowledge, high levels skills and technology, Operating in 29 countries around the world, SDI opened its first office in Africa in the British High Commission in Accra in June 2014. Whilst regional in its geographic focus, sectorally the focus of activity in Africa is exclusively oil and gas and education and training related to oil and gas.
A statement from Gary Soper, Regional Manager for Africa for Scottish Development International, who is leading the delegation for this visit, “I am delighted to be bringing such a large trade delegation from Scotland and participating in the 20th edition of Offshore West Africa. Our presence is aimed at promoting the strengths of the Scottish industry and developing ties with Nigerian businesses. Sub sectors represented include education and training; subsea engineering; winches; electrical product distribution; well construction and engineering services; and remote communications systems to name but a few. ’’ Amongst the delegation, awareness of the need to address local content and local participation issues is high.
Scotland is a true Global Hub for oil and gas. The oil and gas cluster makes a huge contribution to the Scottish economy and Scotland has grown many creative and innovative companies already operating in over 100 countries worldwide.
And whilst some Scotland-based companies are already operating in Nigeria, there is scope for more to be active here through developing partnerships and transferring some of the technologies and skills that have been built up over the 50 years of operating in the North Sea.
The delegation comprises some 13 companies: 271 Offshore ACE Winches AGR Crummock Oil and Gas Forth Valley College Glasgow Caledonian University JEE Ltd McDermott Marine Construction Ltd Peprime Limited Plexus Ocean Systems Limited RigNet Africa Robert Gordon University Zenith Energy
