WINDHOEK: The first-ever International Oil and Gas Conference held on Namibian soil kicked off in Windhoek on Thursday, bringing together more than 200 oil and gas professionals, academics and regulators from different parts of the globe.

Themed ‘The Road to Discovery and Beyond’, the aim of the conference is to explore and debate the effects, opportunities and challenges linked with the discovery of petroleum resources in Namibia.

The year has been marked by many offshore exploration and drilling activities using state-of-the-art technology offshore Namibia.

The exploration has attracted international interest, and placed Namibia in the spotlight as an emerging oil and gas land.

Apart from the two-day conference, participants are treated to an exhibition, where service providers in oil and gas exploration are displaying their services and products.

The exhibition provides a platform for new business development and information exchange.

More than 10 businesses are exhibiting their products and services.