Dow was a lead sponsor at influential event, which saw participation from senior executives and regional leadership

Dubai, UAE- January 29, 2013 - Senior executives from The Dow Chemical Company ("Dow") highlighted the positive impacts of downstream manufacturing, the role of the 'Value Park' model, and the Company's commitment to the region, among other topics, at the recently concluded 7th MIT Pan-Arab Conference, which was held in Dubai from 19-20 January 2013. The event was organized by the MIT Arab Alumni Association (MIT AAA) and co-sponsored by Dow. The theme of the conference was "Manufacturing for Jobs, Growth and Diversification" and focused on examining the role of the manufacturing sector in providing employment and economic diversity in the Arab World.

As part of the Company's involvement at the event, senior Dow executives were featured prominently among the Conference's list of distinguished speakers and panel experts. Jim McIlvenny, senior vice president and chairman of the Dow Sadara Project Office delivered a keynote speech and Dr. Zuhair Allawi, president of Dow Saudi Arabia, participated in the Industry Growth and Performance panel, highlighting Sadara Chemical Company, Dow's joint venture with Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Saudi Aramco)  and the benefits of the Value Park concept.

As part of his keynote, McIlvenny outlined emerging fundamental shifts in the global competitive landscape that are challenging the Middle East's historical feedstock advantage. He also emphasized the need to leverage the region's strong base of petrochemical knowledge to build downstream facilities, supply value-added products and create manufacturing jobs that, in turn, generate more jobs and propel continued growth. McIlvenny also highlighted the importance of collaboration across companies and countries in a globalized world.

"Our discussions at the MIT Pan-Arab Conference were part of a larger, industry-wide conversation on leveraging the petrochemicals industry's ability to drive economic growth for the benefit of the region and its people," said Dr. Allawi. "At Dow, we firmly believe in the potential that the Middle East has to offer, as is evident from our growing manufacturing and business footprint. We welcome opportunities, such as this conference, to facilitate dialogue and brainstorm solutions to the rising economic and employment issues facing the Middle East."

About Dow
Dow (NYSE: DOW) combines the power of science and technology to passionately innovate what is essential to human progress. The Company connects chemistry and innovation with the principles of sustainability to help address many of the world's most challenging problems such as the need for clean water, renewable energy generation and conservation, and increasing agricultural productivity. Dow's diversified industry-leading portfolio of specialty chemical, advanced materials, agrosciences and plastics businesses delivers a broad range of technology-based products and solutions to customers in approximately 160 countries and in high growth sectors such as electronics, water, energy, coatings and agriculture. In 2011, Dow had annual sales of $60 billion and employed approximately 52,000 people worldwide. The Company's more than 5,000 products are manufactured at 197 sites in 36 countries across the globe. References to "Dow" or the "Company" mean The Dow Chemical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise expressly noted. More information about Dow can be found at www.dow.com.

About Dow in the Middle East
Dow has a longstanding relationship with the Middle East beginning with the establishment of manufacturing and commercial facilities in the United Arab Emirates more than 30 years ago. Since then, Dow has established a solid presence in the Middle East petrochemicals industry, partnering with leading regional companies to set up state-of-the-art petrochemical complexes across the region. For 15 years, Dow and Petrochemical Industries Company K.S.C. (PIC) of Kuwait have shared one successful milestone after another, partnering on six industry-leading joint ventures. Saudi Aramco and Dow are in the formation process of a joint venture to build, own and operate a world-scale integrated chemicals complex in the Eastern Province of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. From the entrepreneurship initiatives of Young Arab Leaders to the new Dow Middle East and Africa R&D Center at the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in Saudi Arabia, Dow actively supports the social and economic aspirations of the communities where it operates. For more information about Dow in the Middle East, please visit:

www.dowmiddleeast.com

For more information please contact:
Kerry Cooper-Bradfield
The Dow Chemical Company
Dubai, UAE
t +971 4453 7092
Email: KLCooperBradfield@dow.com

Nisreen Sarryeh
Weber Shandwick MENA
Dubai UAE
t +971 4 445 42 22
Email: dow@ws-mena.com

© Press Release 2013