The Energy Industries Council (EIC), the leading trade association for UK companies that supply goods and services to the energy industries worldwide, will lead a trade delegation of 14 UK-based companies to Ghana. The mission, supported by UKTI and the British High Commission in Accra, will visit companies in Accra and Takoradi with a view to establishing links and strengthening trade relationships with the Ghanaian oil and gas industry. The participating companies will have the opportunity to find out more about the local business environment and foster links with companies active in the market through group meetings with operators such as GNPC, GNGC and Tullow Oil, as well as major contractors such as Worley Parsons, Technip, Expro and Baker Hughes. The UK supply chain has a proven reputation for excellence, developing advanced technologies that have been refined over more than four decades of operation in the North Sea. UK companies have helped unlock billions of barrels of oil through project management and engineering capability; the design, manufacture and installation of advanced equipment; in conducting groundbreaking research and development; and in providing learning and skills training across the entire energy spectrum. Ghana’s burgeoning oil and gas industry represents a growing market offering substantial opportunities for UK companies to do business. With oil production in Ghana expected to rise to 500,000 bbl/d over the next decade and significant investment from the Government, exploitation of the country’s considerable gas reserves will require an influx high-level expertise. Companies attending the mission are: ABS Consulting, a global integrity, safety and risk management consultancy; Airpac Bukom, supplier of oilfield rental equipment; Atmos International, developer of pipeline application software; BEL Valves, manufacturer of high pressure and high integrity valves, actuators and controls; Dale Power Solutions, supplier of back-up power systems; Dunlop Oil & Marine, provider of high pressure pipes and marine hoses; Edgen Murray Europe, supplier of steel pipes, plates, valves and related components; Flexitallic, manufacturer of static sealing products; FTV Proclad, provider of corrosion resistant clad pipeline systems; John Bell Pipeline, distributor of piping and associated materials; Motherwell Bridge, engineer of storage tanks; Pipe Supports, supplier of pipe supports; Rotork Controls, provider of flow control actuators and other control instrumentation; and William Hare, designer of fabricated steel structures. The EIC runs up to eight Overseas Trade Delegations a year, giving UK companies the opportunity to explore new markets, seek out specific project opportunities and showcase their goods and services directly to key decision-makers. The next Delegation on the EIC calendar is a Power and Renewables mission to Chile on 14-20 April 2013.