Over 400 delegates from the world’s leading oil and gas exploration companies attended the 7th annual Offshore West Africa Conference in early March in Windhoek. Namibia was the first country in southern Africa to host this annual event. Due to the Iraq crisis oil and gas resources in West Africa gain importance. At the opening President Sam Nujoma made clear that governments in the region would not "give up the natural resources and the heritage of their people for mere short-term benefits" offered by the oil industry. The oil and gas reserves off the west African coast should be developed in partnership with the industry and the relevant governments to advance the countries’ economies, fuel their industries and improve the living standards of the citizens and future generations. President Nujoma announced that legislation was being drawn up to promote Namibia’s natural gas resources.