THE CASPIAN REGION STRENGTHENS ITS POSITION: RESULTS OF ATYRAU OIL&GAS AND ATYRAUBUILD 2026 EXHIBITIONS

FROM APRIL 8 TO 10, TWO MAJOR INDUSTRY EXHIBITIONS WERE HELD IN ATYRAU — THE 23RD NORTH CASPIAN REGIONAL EXHIBITION ATYRAU OIL&GAS 2026 AND THE 23RD NORTH CASPIAN REGIONAL CONSTRUCTION AND INTERIOR EXHIBITION ATYRAUBUILD 2026, BRINGING TOGETHER REPRESENTATIVES OF THE OIL AND GAS, PETROCHEMICAL, AND CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRIES.

The events served as a platform for showcasing advanced technologies, exchanging experiences, and developing business dialogue.

Over the three days of the exhibitions, the combined exposition was visited by 2,697 visitors from 36 countries, and 85 companies from 9 countries, including Kazakhstan, Germany, China, the USA, and others, participated. About 40% of the exhibitors presented their solutions for the first time, confirming the growing interest in the region. An outdoor exhibition with large-scale equipment and machinery was also organized.

Among the distinguished guests were Kuat Sandalov, Head of the Digitalization Department of the Administration of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan; Temirlan Urkumbaev, Director of the Department of Oil and Gas Chemistry and Technical Regulation of the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Kazakhstan; Daniyar Orynbasarov, Head of the Entrepreneurship and Industry Department of the Atyrau Region, Marlen Kasenov, Head of the Digitalization Department of the Atyrau Region; Steven Connor, General Manager of Production at Tengizchevroil; Kairgeldy Kabyldin, Deputy General Director for Government Relations of the Republic of Kazakhstan at Caspian Pipeline Consortium-K; Rashid Zhaksilykov, Chairman of the Presidium of the Union of Oil Service Companies of Kazakhstan KazService; Kanysh Mambetov, Chairman of the Board of JSC National Industrial Petrochemical Technopark; Diaz Diyanov, Chairman of the Board of LLP KMG PetroChem; Askat Sultashev, Technical Director of North Caspian Operating Company.

The Head of the Entrepreneurship and Industry Department of the Atyrau Region, Daniyar Orynbasarov, noted that the exhibition has become an important international platform for industry development and strengthening business ties. "The Atyrau Oil&Gas exhibition is an important international platform that promotes the development of the oil and gas industry and strengthens business ties. It opens up new opportunities for attracting investments, implementing modern technologies, and localizing production in the Atyrau Region," he noted.

Among the participants and guests of the exhibition was the company Caspian Marine Services from Baku. Senior Project and Commerce Specialist Farid Rzayev reported that the company is participating for the fourth time. "The organization is at a high level, the pavilion is convenient, and many productive negotiations are taking place. We see active interest and new opportunities for cooperation," he noted.

Dozens of speakers participated in the business program. On April 8, a plenary session was held dedicated to the development of the Caspian region as an industrial hub and issues of digital transformation of the industry. Key attention was paid to forming a unified production chain — from raw material extraction and processing to the development of petrochemicals, which significantly increases the added value within the country. Participants considered the impact of major operator projects on the development of regional infrastructure, as well as the prospects for forming a powerful industrial cluster in Atyrau and the Caspian region as a whole. A separate emphasis was placed on the role of petrochemicals as a driver of deep processing, attracting investments, and developing international partnerships. In addition, issues of expanding the participation of local contractors and strengthening the service market, which is an important factor for sustainable industry growth, were discussed.

A panel session on "Digital Transformation of the Oil and Gas Industry: Strategy, Technologies, and Economic Effect" followed, during which participants discussed the implementation of digital solutions, increasing the efficiency of production processes, and ensuring sustainable industry development.

On the second day, April 9, a strategic session on "The Role of Special Economic and Industrial Zones in the Development of the Petrochemical Cluster and Related Sectors" was held, during which participants considered the prospects of industrial cooperation, the investment attractiveness of the region, and the significance of special economic zones in creating new production chains.

Special attention during the exhibitions was paid to issues of production localization and the development of Kazakhstani content. Representatives of Tengizchevroil emphasized that the company continues to actively develop cooperation with domestic suppliers. In 2025, TCO's procurement volume from Kazakhstani producers amounted to about 1.8 billion US dollars, and the level of Kazakhstani content reached 71%. Since the company's founding, the total volume of purchases from domestic suppliers has exceeded 52.3 billion US dollars. Steven Connor, General Manager of Production at Tengizchevroil, noted the importance of open interaction with local companies and the development of the production base in the country.

The third day was dedicated to the practical part of the program — industrial tours to enterprises of the special economic zone "National Industrial Petrochemical Technopark." Exhibition participants visited several production facilities, including KPI Inc., Intago Kazakhstan, and Karabatan Utility Solutions, where they were able to familiarize themselves with modern technologies, production processes, and best industry practices.

The exhibitions traditionally became a platform for establishing new partnerships and strategic agreements that contribute to the development of the oil and gas and construction sectors of Kazakhstan and the entire Caspian region.

The general partner of the event is Tengizchevroil.

The gold partner is the Caspian Pipeline Consortium.

The event is officially supported by the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Akimat of the Atyrau Region, JSC "NC KazMunayGas", the Kazakhstan Association of Oil and Gas and Energy Complex Organizations "KAZENERGY", the Council for the Development of Strategic Partnerships in the Oil and Gas Industry PETROCOUNCIL, the Union of Service Companies of Kazakhstan "KazService", the Kazakhstan Society of Oilmen and Geologists (KONG).

The event is organized by the Kazakhstan exhibition company Iteca and its international partner — the ICA Events Group.