RIYADH, Jan 20: The third round of Asian Ministerial Roundtable will be held in Tokyo on April 19.

At least 20 ministers from Saudi Arabia, Japan, Qatar, China, Oman, Kuwait, the UAE and India are expected to take part in the deliberations, aimed at evolving an Asian energy identity.

The idea of the roundtable was first launched by India in January 2005, with an aim to promote South–South cooperation in the field, with Asia not only the major exporter but also emerging as major energy consumer too.

The subject of major discussion this time would be to revive investment in oil and gas projects after crude prices tumbled to their current lows.

Japanese Trade Minister Toshihiro Nikai and Qatari Oil Minister Abdullah bin Hamad al-Attiyah will co-chair the third meeting, the trade ministry in Tokyo was quoted as saying today.

Oil ministers from Iran, Iraq, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman and the United Arab Emirates plan to take part.

The first such round-table was held in New Delhi in January 2005 and was regarded as the brain-child of the then Indian oil minister Mani Shankar Ayer, a former Indian Consul General in Karachi too. The second meeting was held in Riyadh in May 2007. The Pakistani delegation at the Riyadh moot was led by the then Minister for Petroleum, Amanullah Khan Jadoon.

The meeting is scheduled to take place amid growing concerns among policy-makers of both oil-producing and consuming nations that a global recession will further slash fuel demand and cut investment in crude and natural gas projects.

Saudi Arabia and other oil producing countries are insisting on maintaining oil prices at a level that encourages investment and helps create a climate conducive to development of viable energy sources.

The current climate is discouraging investment in this crucial sector, analysts strongly underline.