Curtin Malaysia giving full support to SOGSE 2019

Miri – 27 March 2018 – Curtin University Malaysia (Curtin Malaysia) is giving its full support to the upcoming Sarawak Oil & Gas Seminar and Exhibition 2019 (SOGSE 2019), having explored ways it can contribute to the key Oil & Gas event for the state during a dialogue with the organisers recently.

Organised by Dewan Usahawan Bumiputera Sarawak (DUBS) in collaboration with the Malaysian Oil & Gas Services Council (MOGSC) and Suarah Petroleum Group (SPG), SOGSE 2019 will be held at Imperial Hotel Miri on 13 and 14 April 2019.

The event will be the first of its kind organised by DUBS in Miri, involving top-level business leaders, senior executives and industry professionals, and representatives from government agencies and academia, to gain and share insights on the Oil & Gas industry and Sarawak’s mission to enhance its participation in the development of its own Oil & Gas resources.

Academics from Curtin Malaysia’s Faculty of Engineering and Science will facilitate a technical seminar on Sarawak’s Oil & Gas resources on the first day, covering Sarawak’s geological and geophysical attributes and prospects in Oil & Gas, as well as advances in technology and the latest developments in Oil & Gas related research.

Meanwhile, on the second day, academics from its Faculty of Business will facilitate a round table discussion and workshop on managing small and medium enterprises (SMEs) catering to the Oil & Gas industry.

As a leading provider of business education in the region and the centre for the Sarawak chapter of the International Council for SME & Entrepreneurship-Malaysia (ICSMEE-Malaysia), Curtin Malaysia is well suited to help SMEs develop growth strategies and increase their competitiveness.

Expert panellists from the university will also discuss technological, management and academic issues in the various forums during the event. In addition, its marketing team will operate an exhibition booth to raise awareness of its academic programmes, particularly in petroleum engineering, applied geology and postgraduate studies, and some 30 student volunteers will assist with the running of the event over the two days.

Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi (Dr) Abang Haji Abdul Rahman Zohari Tun Datuk Abang Haji Openg will officiate at its closing on 14 April, during which a seminar resolution and action plan drafted by the participants will be presented to the chief minister.

Representing Curtin Malaysia at the dialogue were Deputy Pro Vice-Chancellor Professor Beena Giridharan, Acting Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Science Associate Professor Vincent Lee, Acting Dean of the Faculty of Business Associate Professor Pauline Ho, Chair of the Faculty of Business’ Industry Engagement Committee Chan Kwok Mow, Chair of the Faculty of Engineering and Science’s Industrial and External Relations Committee Ir. Lim Chye Ing, and Associate Director of Marketing and Communications Dinesh Rajenthiran.

Head of the Department of Petroleum Engineering in the Faculty of Engineering and Science Hisham Khaled Ben Mahmud and petroleum engineering academics Dr Mehdi Safari and Dr Ziad Bennour, as well as Head of the Department of Applied Geology Associate Professor M.V. Prasanna and Head of the Department of Management at the Faculty of Business Dr Stephen Sim, were also present.

Meanwhile, the SOGSE 2019 organising committee, DUBS and SPG were represented by Co-chairman (and SPG Past President) Haji Hamim Yusuf, Deputy Secretary (and SPG Deputy President) Abang Iskandar Abang Muas, and committee members Hajah Juita Drap, Hashim Ismail, Boniface Bait, Abdul Razak Joni, Mohd. Hafidz Rohani, and Hadijah Sheikh Kassim, who are also executive committee members of either DUBS or SPG.

According to Haji Hamim, SOGSE 2019 will provide participants the opportunity to network and exchange ideas with highly influential decision-makers and thought-leaders shaping Sarawak’s Oil & Gas development. For DUBS members and affiliates, it will also be an avenue to showcase their capabilities and experience.

Highlights of the event will include experience sharing by Sarawak Oil & Gas professionals and international guest speakers, showcases of Oil & Gas companies and businesses, and exhibition booths by various partner organisations.

Meanwhile, Professor Giridharan said that Curtin Malaysia, as a state government-owned entity and the largest international campus of a global university here in Sarawak, fully supports Sarawak’s ambitions to rapidly progress its economy and welcomes all opportunities to be a key player in these efforts.

She said Curtin Malaysia aims to be an industry hub for the Oil & Gas sector, leveraging on its very strong petroleum engineering and applied geology programmes and expertise for industrial research and human capital development.

Collaboration at the hub will include sharing common facilities such as test labs, and providing access to the university’s live stock market trading room where SME contractors can learn to manage their financial portfolios and track the global Oil & Gas markets.

Professor Giridharan said that SOGSE 2019 is an excellent opportunity for the university to showcase what it has to offer in support of the Oil & Gas sector. It will also be in important milestone for the university as it celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, signaling a new level of partnerships with Oil & Gas players in Sarawak.

The meeting of Curtin Malaysia management and SOGSE 2019 organising committee.

Curtin Malaysia and SOGSE 2019 representatives in photo call following their meeting.