BP Plc, Europe's second-biggest oil firm, on Friday said it its board met for the first time in India this week to gain an understanding of opportunities in the world's third largest energy consuming nation.
Members of BP board including Chairman Carl-Henric Svanberg and CEO Bob Dudley arrived on May 14 and during the four-day visit dined with Oil Minister M Veerappa Moily and partner Reliance Industries officials including Chairman
Mukesh Ambani, visited their flagship KG-D6 fields in Bay of Bengal and called on President Pranab Mukherjee.
"The Board also met with Government dignitaries and business partners," BP said in a statement here.
In an interaction with Mukherjee on Friday, BP Chairman Carl-Henric Svanberg affirmed, "We are working closely with the Government of India in its quest for energy security. I am confident that, working together with our partners Reliance Industries, our combined capabilities, experience and expertise in deep water will support the efficient and cost-effective development of India's energy resources."
BP occasionally holds a Board meeting in a significant market for the company, and this year a decision was taken to hold one in India. "This is a clear indicator of the company's strong commitment to the Indian energy sector," it said.
MNCs bringing their boards to hold meetings here is symbolic of their ambitions linked to the country. PepsiCo, Goldman Sachs, Lenovo and Unilever are among those who have previously held board meeting in India.
BP's Chairman (third from left) and Board members with President Pranab Mukherjee (fourth from left) 
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