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Regional pioneers bestowed posthumous honors for extraordinary contributions to petrochemicals industry
Dubai, United Arab Emirates – The Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association (GPCA) honored pioneers of the chemicals and petrochemicals industry in the Arabian Gulf posthumously at the first-ever GPCA Legacy Award “Al-Rowad” () ceremony.
Families of the late Dr. Ghazi Al-Gosaibi (1940 – 2010), Yousuf Al-Shirawi (1927 – 2004) and Abdulbaqi Al-Nouri (1929 – 2010), who have been recognized as Arabian Gulf Chemical Pioneers, collected the awards from Yousef Al-Benyan, Chairman of GPCA, CEO and Vice-Chairman of SABIC, at a ceremony held on 28 November 2017, as part of the 12th Annual GPCA Forum.
Rania and Shermeen Al Shirawi, daughters of the late Yousuf Al-Shirawi, collected the award. Yousuf Al-Shirawi was the Minister of Development and Industry, Bahrain (1971 – 1995), and instrumental in setting up Gulf Petrochemical Industries Company (GPIC), the first and only regional GCC joint venture.
Faris Al Ghosaibi collected the award on the behalf of his father, the late Dr. Ghazi Al Ghosaibi, former Minister of Industry and Electricity (1976-1983) of Saudi Arabia and the first Chairman of Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC).
Mahmoud Al Nouri, former Kuwaiti Minister of Finance, and nephew of the late Abdulbaqi Al-Nouri, accepted the award on his family’s behalf. Abdulbaqi Al-Nouri was the former Chairman and Managing Director of Petrochemical Industries Company (PIC).
Dr. Abdulwahab Al-Sadoun, Secretary General, GPCA, commented, “Many challenges stood in the way of creating our regional industry. Skepticism was abundant at both home and abroad. And yet despite all odds, our leaders succeeded in building a regional chemical industry out of the barren desert.”
“None of this would have been possible without the extraordinary backing of our governments who empowered and provided them with the tools they need to succeed. These pioneers courageously pursued ambitious projects when many around them predicted failure. The great achievements of Ghazi Al-Gosaibi, Yousif Al-Shirawi, and Abdulbaqi Al-Nouri led the Nomination Committee to make them our unanimous choice for the GPCA Legacy Award “Al Rowad”, he added.
A Nomination Committee comprising veterans of the petrochemicals industry in the Arabian Gulf region put forward the pioneers for the award.
For more information about the initiative, please visit www.gpcalegacy.com
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About the Gulf Petrochemicals & Chemicals Association
The Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association (GPCA) was established in 2006 to represent the downstream hydrocarbon industry in the Arabian Gulf. Today, the association voices the common interests of more than 250 member companies from the chemical and allied industries, accounting for over 95 percent of chemical output in the GCC. The industry makes up the second largest manufacturing sector in the region, producing over US$108 billion worth of products every year.
GPCA supports the petrochemical and chemical industry in the Arabian Gulf through advocacy, networking and thought leadership initiatives aimed at helping member companies to connect, share and advance knowledge, contribute to international dialogue, and become prime influencers in shaping the future of the global petrochemicals industry.
Committed to providing a regional platform for stakeholders from around the world, GPCA manages six working committees – Plastics, Supply Chain, Fertilizers, International Trade, Research and Innovation, and Responsible Care – and organizes six world-class events each year. The association also publishes an annual report, regular newsletters and various other industry reports.
For more information, visit www.gpca.org.ae.
Contact:
Slavka Atanasova
Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association
P. O. Box 123055,
Dubai,
United Arab Emirates
T: + 9714 451 0666 Ext. 126
E: communications@gpca.org.ae
