The Royal Dutch / Shell Group of Companies (Shell) is supporting the International Conference on Desertification to be held in Dubai 12th - 15th February 2000. The conference, which is being held under the patronage of His Highness General, Sheikh Mohamed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and UAE Minister of Defence, is organised by the "Zayed International Prize for the Environment".

The conference and exhibition provides a forum for environmental experts from the public and private sector to meet to discuss the important issue of Desertification and climate change in desert regions. It places this issue within the overall context of "Sustainable Development" the principle of which has been embraced by Shell in its own internal practices. Shell has also been an active advocate of the need for "Sustainable Development" in the wider communities in which it operates. Last year Shell Dubai initiated and sponsored the successful "ECO-ARABIA '99" conference which addressed "Sustainable Development" in respect of the marine and coastal environment of the Middle East. The "Desertification" conference moves the debate onto the land and Shell is pleased to continue to be actively associated with the subject and to be part of the debate.

Shell will have a stand at the exhibition which will feature Shell's commitment to "Sustainable Development" and give examples of how Shell companies are active in ensuring that its principles are applied in practice.