Some 25 South African companies are set to participate at what is regarded as the oil-and-gas industry's largest yearly exhibition, the Offshore Technology Conference (OTC), to be held in Houston, in the US, from May 1 to 4.

The event also coincides with a boom in West African oil-related investment and with South Africa's attempts to harness its engineering and manufacturing base to provide supplies and services into this expansion.

“We have been bringing a group to OTC every year, because it's one of the best ways to showcase what South Africa has to offer,namely, service capability matched with strategic geographical advantage,” says Gary Schwabe of the South African Oil & Gas Alliance.

He points out that Cape Town is the closest developed hub to the heart of West Africa's oil-and-gas activity, and that it is serviced by over 600 South African engineering companies.

South Africa's participation at OTC is being organised by the South African Chamber of Commerce America (SACCA) and the South African Oil and Gas Alliance, with support from South Africa's Department of Trade and Industry. Fifteen South African companies will be exhibiting at booth 5653 under the South African Oil and Gas Alliance, and ten companies will be attending as a group organised by SACCA.

“For South African companies not exhibiting at OTC, SACCA is offering a unique opportunity, especially for newcomers, to learn about the offshore industry, and to develop new business,” says SACCA's CEO Gordon Herr. SACCA is also organising business linkages for its participants, which will include lunches, dinners and private meetings during the OTC week.

Those seeking to register can visit, www.sacca.biz.

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