The ICT2005 International Congress, the largest ICT-associated international congress for energy businesses, is just one month ahead. CEOs and experts from the energy as well as the IT fields will take part in the 7th ICT2005 (The 7th Global Congress on Information and Communication Technology in Energy), scheduled to be held May 23 to 25 in Busan, Korea. With over 200 industry specialists and CEOs from prominent corporations from 29 countries already registered for ICT2005 in advance, the Organizing Committee is confident that its forecast of a total of 600 attendees will be accurate. As a world-scale event that the International Gas Union (IGU) has held every three years since the ICT International Congress was held for the first time in the United Kingdom in late 1987, the Korea Gas Union brought the Congress to Asia for the first time at its Tokyo council meeting in late 2003.

Lee Seung-Hwan

This year's ICT2005 Congress, which will be held under the auspices of the World Energy Council (WEC) and the World Petroleum Council (WPC), is expected to give impetus to the pace of world energy and IT technological exchange. Moreover, as the Congress will be a meeting of the world top energy and IT experts under the same roof, it is also forecast to boost the pace of technology development itself, and thereby contribute immensely to enhancing the efficiency and the competitiveness of both Korea energy and IT sectors. ICT2005 Congress program ICT2005 Congress will be held under three related themes, namely, ompeting in a Deregulated Environment anaging Risksand educing Costs and Improving Performance Under three theme-related sections, this year ICT International Congress will consist of a total of 14 presentations, a poster session, and a CEO Forum. In all, some 50 papers will be presented. Beginning with a keynote speech by Yun Jong-yong, vice chairman and CEO of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. on the topic of sia Power: Development and Trends in ICT & Energy in Asia a long list of luminaries from the energy and IT worlds will address the Congress. They will include: * Shell Canada Limited president and CEO Clive Mather, who will speak on he New Frontiers in Oil and Gas: Harnessing ICT to Deliver Business Value * Gasunie CEO Henk G. Dijkgraaf, whose topic will be CT in Changing European Energy Markets * Andrew Bartels of Forrester Research who will speak on urrent and Future Trends in IT for the Energy Industry -- Where Utilities are and Should be Investing in a Time of Incremental Technology Change * Anatole Gershman of Accenture Technology Laboratory who will address the subject of eality Online Business Applications of Ubiquitous Computing The CEO Forum, scheduled to be held at 4:30 p.m. on Monday, May 23 will give attendees the opportunity to understand how to transform the IT function so that it can leverage value creation for their businesses. It will also serve to demonstrate how top leaders perceive the role of ICT executives within their organization. Among the CEOs to speak on this matter are those from such prominent corporations as Korea City Gas Association, Forrester Research, Gasunie, and Gaz de France. On the second floor of the BEXCO Convention Hall, from 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. on May 24, a total of 30 posters will be displayed at an explanatory exhibition and where it will be possible to discuss the in-depth analyses of the topics so presented through direct meetings with the writers. Opening Ceremony The Opening Ceremony will take place Monday, May 23, 2005, 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. in the Grand Ballroom of the BEXCO. While about 600 people are expected to attend the Opening Ceremony, by Seung-Hwan Lee, chairman of the ICT 2005 National Organizing Committee will declare the meeting open. This will be followed by a welcoming speech by the chairman of the International Gas Union. Also, the ICT2005 National Organizing Committee has invited the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Energy to attend in person. Following the opening ceremony, the Exhibition Opening will be held on the first floor lobby of the BEXCO. This ribbon-cutting ceremony to open the ICT2005 Exhibition is to honor the sponsors and exhibitors of the Congress and will serve as a superb opportunity for networking among the many prestigious guests invited to the opening of ICT2005. Welcoming Reception The Welcoming Reception will be held Monday May 23, 2005 at 7 p.m. sharp in the Annex Garden of the Paradise Hotel, Busan. The first evening of ICT2005 will feature a Welcoming Reception in the exquisite Annex Garden of the Paradise Hotel overlooking magnificent Haeundae Beach. The evening will be the perfect opportunity for participants to relax and get acquainted. The participants will have the opportunity to appreciate an enchanting performance by the National Orchestra Company of Korea. Farewell Dinner The Farewell Dinner will be held Wednesday May 25, 2005 at 7 p.m. in the Busan Lotte Hotel. Intended to cement the relationships that will have been formed during the Congress, the Farewell Dinner is guaranteed to be a memorable event that will send everybody home satisfied and happy. Following a fine dinner, a performance of Korean traditional dance and a demonstration by the internationally acclaimed China Arts Troupe will together constitute a truly spectacular evening for the participants. Program for Accompanying Persons All registered accompanying persons are invited to attend the social functions associated with the congress such as the Opening Ceremony, Closing Ceremony, Welcome Reception, Farewell Dinner, Technical Visit, and the traditional cultural program, Pottery Making. Technical Visit The Technical Visit will be made to Tongyeong LNG Terminal, Thursday, May 26, 2005, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Tongyeong LNG Terminal is located about 100km west of Busan. The industrial tour of the new facilities of Tongyeong LNG Terminal, which began operations in 2002, will prove to be a practical demonstration to the participants as to see the current development of gas industry in Korea. A complimentary lunch is included. The ICT2005 Exhibition Scheduled to be held concurrently with the Congress, exhibitors at the ICT 2005 Exhibition will include the Korea Gas Corporation, Daewoo Construction & Engineering, Gasunie of the Netherlands, Gaz de France, IGU/WGC2006, WEC as well as the Korea IT Times. Currently, the ICT2005 National Organizing Committee is recruiting companies to participate in the exhibition. More information is available from the ICT2005 Secretariat (+82-2-563-8107).