TEHRAN Some UK companies will be participating in the forthcoming 6th International Oil, Gas and Petrochemical Exhibition, the largest national participation at the fair, a press released of the British Embassy said here yesterday.

The exhibitors, led by Michael Thomas of the Middle East Association, and sponsored by the British gevernment's trade and industry arm, Trade Partners UK, represent the very best of the UK's oil and gas industry including operators, consultants, contractors, equipment suppliers and process engineers.

This significant participation clearly demonstrates Britain's commitment to Iran and overwhelmingly supports the UK government's decision to make Iran its number one priority oil and gas market.

We are also pleased to announce that Sir John Kerr, head of the British diplomatic service, will be visiting Tehran on 18-19 April to attend the opening ceremony of the exhibition and to meet with key figures. This is Sir John's second to Iran.

On the wider commercial front, British business activity in Iran continues to go from strength to strength. Leading oil and gas enterprises such as British Petroleum, Shell, Enterprise Oil, British Gas and Lasmo are already well established in Iran. Other prominent British interests include HSBC, Standard Chartered Bank, Standard Bank, Lloyds TSB, Smith Kline Beecham, British Mediterranean, Corus, Davies Tuner, First Automotive, foster Wheeler, Lloyds Register, Rio Tinto, Pilkington and Xerox.

The UK is keen to build on this success with many of those participating in this week's fair looking to develop contacts and to form new mutually beneficial partnerships. We look forward to further development of the commercial relationship with Iran.

Sir John Kerr, together with Mr. Nich Browne, British Ambassador to Tehran, British Embassy, Mr. Ian Lockhart, Head of Oil & Gas Directorate, Trade Partners UK and Mr. Michael Thomas, Middle East Association will attend a press conference at 12:30 on April 18, in the press Conference Room, 2nd floor, Hall 44 (Mabna Building), Permanent Exhibition Center. All press/media are welcome to attend.

For further information on the British participation and British commercial activities in Iran, Please contact: Steven Smith, Second Secretary Commercial, British Embassy, 143 Ferdosi Avenue, Tehran 11365-4474, Tel: 6705011-17, Fax: 6708021, Email: britemb

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The international exhibition will be held on Wednesday for three days in Tehran.

Some 283 domestic and 209 foreign companies will participate in the exhibition which has been grown by 25 percent in terms of domestic participants and 27 percent in terms of foreign participants, comparing last year.