News Release

Mayor in Houston For WECP Working Meetings

(HALIFAX, Friday, May 2/2003)-- Mayor Peter Kelly travels to Houston this weekend for working meetings next week with representatives of the World Energy Cities Partnership (WECP).

A major agenda item is planning for the WECP Annual General Meeting, which will be hosted by Mayor Kelly from October 8-11 in Halifax, It will be held in conjunction with a major industry conference, the Canadian Offshore Resources Exhibition (CORE). This marks the first time Halifax has hosted the Annual General Meeting and the first time the meeting is being held in conjunction with a major industry conference.

Mayor Kelly said "Hosting the Annual General Meeting is significant, because it strengthens our position in WECP; enhances our international energy profile; and provides a unique and substantial opportunity to create long-term business and political relationships that will deliver economic benefits to the region and Canada's offshore energy industry."

He said the event will solidify the Halifax Regional Municipality's and Canada's position in the global energy community, as well as generate international interest in the emerging opportunities in Canada's offshore.

In addition to planning for the Annual General Meeting, Mayor Kelly will be attending the Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) in Houston, one of the world's largest oil and gas conferences.

Mayor Kelly said "Travelling to Houston provides us with a great opportunity to learn about the developments occurring in the global energy sector, understand the key issues and the potential ramifications for Halifax."

HRM is one of the newest members of the World Energy Cities Partnership, which is a worldwide network of cities that promotes the exchange of petroleum industry knowledge and economic and infrastructure development strategies to help member cities in their common task of supporting the local energy sector.

WECP membership allows Halifax to work within the organization to provide opportunities for local companies to partner with oil and gas businesses in other World Energy Cities.  It also provides a forum from which the industry in Nova Scotia can benefit from the experiences of other energy cities with more mature oil and gas sectors, transferring knowledge and skills to Nova Scotia companies.

The World Energy Cities Partnership is a collaboration between 12 "energy cities" around the world, which includes Halifax; Aberdeen, Scotland; Houston, Texas; Stavanger, Norway; Perth, Australia; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Baku, Azerbaijan; Daqing, China; Dongying, China; Maracaibo, Venezuela; St. Johns, Newfoundland; and Villahermosa, Mexico.

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Mayor Peter Kelly
(902) 490-4010