Our team recently returned from the Adipec 2022 international oil and gas industry exhibition in Abu Dhabi. It was a full participation, with a stand and many meetings with partners and potential customers. Many impressions accumulated during the exhibition, which I would like to share.
First of all, I was impressed by the scale and level of activity. This year, more than 160,000 participants from more than 160 countries took part in the exhibition. In fact, people from all over the world gathered in Abu Dhabi.
It was impossible to reserve a location for the stand immediately before the exhibition - the level of demand exceeded the supply, all places were booked long and in advance.
It seemed that the period of the pandemic was in the past and it was time for a rapid economic recovery.
In the eyes of most of the participants, the desire to compensate for the losses during Covid-19 as soon as possible could be read. Everyone was in a hurry, looking for partners, interested in new directions, signing contracts. The pavilions resembled beehives in which bees bustled after the winter lull.
Separately, I want to say about the level of organization of Adipec 2022. In one word, it is space.
Everything is thought out, convenient, comfortable. Through the mobile application, you can meet potential partners, arrange a meeting, and find a location. Everything is in a smartphone. There was no fuss. The organizers of the exhibition have thought through everything to the smallest detail so that the participants are not distracted and spend their time in Abu Dhabi as productively as possible.
In general, we succeeded. We changed the location of the stand, increased the area of our own exposition, used elements of national symbols.
Life has shown that it was a good decision. Many participants approached us. Someone is surprised - "wow, a Ukrainian company is here at the exhibition." And almost all of them - with words of support.
But we were engaged not only in economic diplomacy. Many negotiations were held. The Saudis, Kuwaitis, and Pakistanis were especially active. The entire Middle East and Asia are now in the focus of our attention. The market is very interesting and growing rapidly.
We also managed to communicate with partners, talk about the situation in the country, explain what we are doing to ensure continuous production. At the same exhibition, we agreed on a new order for almost 20 tons of GTP duplex steel grade pipes with our client, Petroleum Development Oman from Oman.
Some time ago, after the shelling of energy facilities, they suspended cooperation. But we managed to convince them of our own ability to fulfill the order on time and with high quality.
The general conclusion – they showed themselves and Ukraine, looked at others, got a new charge of motivation to work further.
If you have the opportunity to go somewhere to present yourself and the country, be sure to take advantage of it.
And we have already booked participation in Adipec 2023. Everything will be Ukraine!
Iryna Kalinina, Head of the Asia and Middle East Sales Office,
Maryna Yelynska, Regional Sales Manager for the Middle East
