SAIPEC’s local content focus appeals to all - interview with Ibrahima Talla

The Sub Saharan Africa International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (SAIPEC) is back and bigger than ever. The conference runs from 13-15 February 2024 at the Eko Convention Center in Lagos, Nigeria.

The event is hosted by the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN) in partnership with the Nigerian Content Development & Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and NNPC Limited.

We spoke to one of the prominent SAIPEC speakers, Ibrahima Talla, the  Chief Operating Officer of Invest in Africa based in Senegal about the conference.

Talla is also the manager of the African Partner Pool (APP) platform, Invest in Africa’s local content development.

 Q: Why should you attend SAIPEC 2024?

Attending SAIPEC 2024 is essential for stakeholders in Africa’s energy sector due to the unique convergence of opportunities for cross-border partnerships and insights into regional energy projects.

The event stands out as a pivotal platform for African service providers to engage with one another, fostering collaboration that is crucial for leveraging local content to its fullest potential.

With an expanding scope each year, SAIPEC has become a critical forum for dialogue and exchange, with representation from over 15 countries in the previous year and an expectation for even greater participation this year. It is not just an event but a catalyst for tangible progress in the energy landscape across Africa.

 

• Which SAIPEC session are you most looking forward to and why?

My focus is keenly set on the local content series, a segment dedicated to exploring the progress and challenges of local content initiatives across Africa. This series is invaluable for its comprehensive insights and benchmarks that assist emerging oil-producing nations and encourage the formation of local private-sector associations.

A highlight for this year is the evolution of discussions from 2022 into the launch of the African Content, a pan-African collaboration platform. This initiative aims to enhance local content digitally across the continent by facilitating meaningful interactions among key service providers, regulators, and operators.

SAIPEC will serve as the stage to announce the inaugural African Content Forum, set to take place in Dakar, Senegal, this July, marking a significant milestone in our collective efforts to optimize local content development.

• Invest in Africa works to empower and upskill individuals can you tell us more about how local content helps people?

Local content is a powerful driver for inclusive growth, enabling the local private sector and workforce to actively participate in the value-creation process, thereby fostering employment and local revenue generation.

Our efforts have directly contributed to the diversification and expansion of local companies, helping them extend their services beyond traditional realms. From initially focusing on real estate, many have ventured into engineering, taken on significant roles in energy projects and mining, and expanded into consulting and chemical supply sectors.

This broadening of scope underscores the transformative impact of local content on fostering versatile economic ecosystems.

Events like SAIPEC play a crucial role in this transformative journey by providing a dynamic platform for sharing insights, showcasing success stories, and exploring new opportunities for collaboration. They serve as catalysts for cross-sectoral partnerships, enabling companies to leverage synergies and innovate beyond their original domains.

The emphasis on collaboration at such forums is pivotal, as it facilitates the exchange of knowledge, skills, and technologies, essential for the sustainable development and resilience of local industries.

Through collective effort and shared vision, we can ensure that local content policies not only drive immediate economic benefits but also lay the groundwork for long-term prosperity and industrial diversification.

For more information about SAIPEC visit – https://saipec-event.com