Dr. Fatih Biron, Chief Economist of the International Energy Agency in Paris, whom "Forbes" calls one of the most influential experts in the energy industry, will visit Israel to participate in the 2013 "Globes" Israel Business Conference. Dr. Birol is responsible for the agency's "World Energy Outlook", the most reliable source of strategic analysis of the global energy market.
Birol also serves as chairman of the International Energy Agency's Energy Business Council (which he founded), a forum for promoting cooperation between the energy business and decision-makers. He is a member of the UN Secretary General's "High-level Group of Sustainable Energy for All", and Chairman of the World Economic Forum's (Davos) Energy Advisory Board.
Dr. Birol is a key figure in the energy world. A "Forbes" ranking of the most influential individuals and organizations in the energy market puts him in fourth place, behind US President Barack Obama and ahead of Russian President Vladimir Putin. In 2012, he was awarded Officer of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic, the country's highest honor.
At the 2013 "Globes" Israel Business Conference, Dr. Birol will participate in the "Trends in the Global Energy" session. The US hegemony in the Middle East has passed from this world. The contemporary Middle East is influenced by two superpowers - the US and China. China has become a partner-rival in political and economic processes in the Middle East, and the other great powers have been pushed aside. In the past two decades, China's dependence on Middle East oil has grown, while the US's dependence has declined, because of technological innovations for the exploitation of oil and gas. The flow of oil from the Middle East is now from west to east, to the growing economies of Asia. This geopolitical change in energy creates common interests between the US and China to promote peace and stability in the Middle East.
The other panelists are Adv. Shraga Biran from the Institute for Structural Reforms; Citigroup global head of commodities research Dr. Edward Lewis Morse; Noble Energy Inc. (NYSE: NBL) SVP Eastern Mediterranean Region Keith Elliott; and three former ministers of national infrastructures - MK Binyamin (Fuad) Ben-Eliezer (Labor); Joseph Paritzky, an entrepreneur and investor in energy and infrastructure projects; and Moshe Shachal, the founder of M. Shachal & Co. Law Offices. "Globes" energy and infrastructures correspondent Amiram Barkat will be the moderator.
The 2013 "Globes" Israel Business Conference, the country's largest business conference, will be held this year under the title "The Global Economy in 2014". It is Israel's premier and most prestigious economic event, attended by decision-makers, businesspeople, government officials, academics, researchers, spokespersons, and delegations from Israel and around the world. The conference will offer analyses and insights by leading economics and academics, businesspeople, and policymakers from Israel and other countries.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on November 11, 2013
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