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ODE targets North Africa market

International engineering contractor ODE has established its first roots outside the UK with a new North Africa office in Cairo.

The London-based company believes there is tremendous potential in and around Egypt to further develop its oil and gas interests.

“UK interest is probably bigger there than in any other country in the world and there is everything you need to do business. We want to be part of that action,” said Peter Godfrey, chairman and managing director of ODE, a TMS Media client.

Most of the major international E&P companies are operating in Egypt, nearly all from UK bases. ODE already has business there but wants to expand it considerably.

The Cairo office is in the New Maadi district, an area near where near most of the oil and gas operating companies are headquartered.

It is being headed by former BG man Neil Clark who has lived and worked in the city for a long time, is integrated into the business community and is involved with many ex-pat activities in support of the local community.

“There is a lot of support from the British Embassy where Keith Melville – a one-time oil and gas driller – is director of trade and industry,” said Mr Godfrey. “We’ll be holding a formal launch for the office later this year with key clients and partnering organisations.

“Once established in Egypt we want to push on into Tunisia, where we have already undertaken a lot of project works for British Gas, and then into other regions of the Mahgreb such as Algeria and Libya.”

For more details call Vaughan Rees at ode on 020 8481 3685 or Neil Clark at ode North Africa on +2 0182 151 154