22nd World Energy Congress 2013 opens in Daegu
World Energy Congress 2013 kicks off with the leading figures in the energy arena present in Daegu, South Korea
With 7,000 participants from 120 countries a spectacular opening ceremony marked the beginning of the 22nd World Energy Congress in Daegu, South Korea.
The opening ceremony, which was held yesterday at 6pm local time, at the Daegu EXCO Convention hall, hosted delegates from the 93 countries of the World Energy Congress, including such key figures as Prime Minister Jung Hong Won; Cho Hwan Eik chairman of the 22nd World Energy Congress organising committee and the Mayor of Daegu, Kim Bum Il.
Alsoin attendance are Pierre Gadonneix, Chairman of World Energy Council (WEC), and Marie-José Nadeau, executive vice president of hydro Québec and next term chairman of WEC.
Cho Hwan-Eik, Chairman of the SEC Daegu 2013 Organizing Committee said “The importance of this year’s congress can be seen through each and every one of the personal from the corporations and governments participating.” Adding, “This congress presents a unique opportunity to reach the world energy community. It is where ideas are exchanged and business deals are done. I am confident that with such enthusiastic participation we will make great progress towards tackling the many energy challenges that the world faces today.”
Pierre Gadonneix, Chairman of the World Energy Council, said in his opening speech, “The attending of the most significant and influential personal in the world shows the importance of the agenda of this year’s congress” adding “Setting the role of energy in global economic development is the prior task of the energy leaders. Through this congress, we must find the middle ground for the complex and urgent problem for procuring future energy and the prior tasks to these problems.”
Kim Bum Il, Mayor of Daegu Metropolitan City, said in his opening speech “It is honor to host the world’s largest event in the energy field for the last 90 years in ‘Solar city’ Daegu. 2.6 million citizens of Daegu and I welcome the attendees of the congress with open arms.”
Being the first congress to be held in Korea, this year’s event attracted 60 government officials from 44 countries including energy ministers from Asia, Europe, Africa, America, and the Middle East. Furthermore, 275 energy business leaders from international corporations, international organizations, and development banks from each region will come together to speak about the main issues of the global energy industry.
Main speakers of the congress include Cho Hwan Ick, CEO of Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) and chairman of the 22ndWorld Energy Congress organizing committee, Yoon Sang Jick, Minister of Trade, Industry, and Energy, Hur Dong Soo, Chairman of GS Caltex, Jeong Chang Seok, Vice President of Korea National Oil Corp, Jang Seok Hyo, President and CEO of Korea Gas Corp, Choi In Gyu, Vice President of KEPCO, Jang Gil Su, special advisor to KEPCO, Kim Young Hoon, Chairman & CEO of Daesung Group, Howard Bamsey, Director General at Global Green Growth Institute, Yang Soo Gil, Co-Chair of the UN sustainable development solution network – Korean Forum, Ahn Nam Sung, President of Korea Institute of Energy Technology Evaluation and Planning, and Lee Gyung Su, Research Fellow at the National Fusion Research Institute.
Speakers from major international organizations such as OPEC, the World Bank, the UN, and the International Energy Agency will talk about the energy issues that the global society has faced from the influence of shale gas to the potential of renewable energy. Sessions that Korea could focus on is the Asian LNG market, Green Growth in Asia, and the Asia Super-grid etc.
Over 360 media delegates from all over the world have participated in this year’s congress to cover the various media events of the speakers, sponsors, and the exhibiting companies.
The 44 corporate sponsors for the World Energy Congress are headlined by Korea Electric Power, SK Group, Rosneft, Daesung Group, GS Caltex, KNOC, KOGAS, POSCO and S-Oil. Lee Seok Chae, CEO of KT, Kho Jung Sik, President & CEO of Korea Resources Corp, Lee Hoe Sung, Vice Chairman of Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Howard
The exhibition site of the World Energy Congress has been completely booked. 263 companies from 24 countries from all around the world are represented in the 22,000 sq-meters exhibition floor area, with 25,000 visitors expected. Major exhibition highlights include a Russia Day event and the China and UAE pavilions.
