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1st GPCA Plastics Summit Gets Underway In UAE

More than 300 Delegates from 120 Regional and Global Companies Including SABIC , EQUATE, Borouge and TASNEE
Dubai, UAE June 15^th, 2010 - More than 300 key decision makers, players, and stake holders in the regional and international petrochemicals and plastic converting industry have gathered in Dubai for the inaugural GPCA Plastics Summit taking place today and tomorrow at the Grand Hyatt Dubai.

High-level delegates from more than 120 companies representing the GCC, EMEA, America and Asia, including leading producers such as SABIC , Tasnee , EQUATE, Borouge and LyondellBasell, are in town to discuss both critical business and environmental issues regarding the plastics industry of tomorrow and highlight the crucial role of plastics products in society.

This high-level event, organized by the Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association ( GPCA ) in conjunction with Chemical Week, is designed to engage the raw material (resins) producers, the plastic converters, and traders with a focus on how the Middle East and the global plastic industry are evolving to drive sustainable growth through socially responsible initiatives.

Day 1 of the Summit was focused primarily on the industry as a whole and initiatives promising a new wave of growth and innovation that will ensure that by 2012, at least 25 percent of the global plastics industry will be based in the Middle East.

Moayyed I. Al Qurtas, Chairman of Plastics Committee, GPCA ; Vice Chairman and CEO, TASNEE, started off proceedings with a welcome address in which he reflected on the importance of plastics in our world and as a driver of growth and diversification in the Gulf economy.

Another regional industry stalwart, Khaled Al Mana, Executive Vice President Polymers, SABIC , shared his insight on growth opportunities for plastics conversion in the Gulf focusing on its promising future and SABIC 's initiatives to upgrade its plastics portfolio.

The keynote speech was given by renowned futurist Ray Hammond who focused on growth and globalization toward the year 2030, bursting the myth that globalization had stopped due to the financial crisis. He went onto add that the only difference has been an increased focus on sustainability buoyed by growth in recycling, biodegradable products and responsible energy use and more innovation and creativity in business processes. His talk centered on key drivers of business and societal development including technological development, human healthcare and human longevity and the importance of the 'Bottom Billion', the world's poorest nations who are not taking part in globalization.

Other key speakers on Day 1 included Manfred Klepacz, CEO, Al Rajhi Holding Group who's talk on 'Requirements for Growth of the Plastics Value Chain: A Converter's Perspective' focused on the advantages of the GCC for converters and measures that need to be put into place to ensure continued growth including investing beyond technology and developing a culture of service.

"Today has been a fantastic start to what promises to be a hugely successful event for us as the organizers and the delegates themselves. The enthusiastic sharing of insights and expertise I have observed throughout the day has been heartening and I look forward to seeing more of this healthy dialogue and debate tomorrow," said Dr. Abdulwahab Al-Sadoun, Secretary General of GPCA commenting on Day 1.

- Ends -

About the Gulf Petrochemicals & Chemicals Association

Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association ( GPCA ) is the first such association to represent the interests of the industry in the Middle East and it has brought a major dimension to its task by creating both a forum for discussion and a place where likeminded people can meet and share concepts and ideas. Since its inception in March 2006, the GPCA has earned the enviable reputation for steering the regional industry towards a whole new level of co-operation and raising the standard in terms of common ground interests.

As the regions' Petrochemicals and Chemicals Industry's most respected representative body, GPCA will continue its efforts to enhance the role of the region in international debate and policy making while always ensuring that its doors are always open to its members and it acts as a catalyst for focusing attention on matters on issues relevant to the industry.
GPCA 's mission is singular and specific in that it intends to support the growth and sustainable development of the petrochemical and chemical industries in the Gulf in partnership with its members and stakeholders and be both a sounding board and a meeting point for debate and discussion. Additional information is available at www.gpca.org.ae

About Chemical Week
Chemical Week, part of Access Intelligence, LLC, is the world's leading source of news and analysis for key professionals concerned with the chemicals, petrochemicals, specialty chemicals and related industries. Chemical Week information is available face-to-face, daily, weekly and 24/7 via our websites, weekly print magazine, newsletters, custom publications, online buyers' guides, and conferences. Additional information is available at www.chemweek.com.

For more information, please contact:
Nandini Vohra
Managing Director
THE GUILD
Email: nandini@theguildpr.com
Tel:050 457 8233

© Press Release 2010