The growth, sustainability and challenges in petrochemical industry will take centre stage at the annual forum for which more than 1300 delegates from 44 countries have already confirmed their attendance.
The theme of this year’s forum, being held on 13-15 December in Dubai, “Moving downstream – Creating added value and sustainable growth”, was also chosen for its relevance and timeliness, according to organizers.
“Over the past two decades, the petrochemicals industry in the Arabian Gulf has enjoyed a period of significant expansion reflected in growth rates in access of 12% per annum, driven by a combination of capabilities and plentiful supplies of advantaged gas feed stocks. After establishing the region as a global hub for commodity petrochemical production with a global market share of 16% by the end of 2010, the industry is moving toward a more diversified product portfolio producing the higher value performance and speciality chemicals,” said Dr. Abdulwahab Al-Sadoun, secretary general, GPCA.
“This changing pattern will bring along a set of challenges for the Gulf producers to capture further sustainable value-creating opportunities. These lie downstream and are linked to the development of industrial clusters across the region, particularly those being established to provide input materials for the automotive, flexible packaging, and appliances sectors. We will see throughout the Gulf region by the end of this decade, projects that produce new chemical products and create more employment opportunities, whether that is in the specialty chemicals or the performance polymers.”
Prince Faisal Bin Turki, advisor to the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, will be the keynote speaker at this year’s event, which is expected to attract more than 1,500 delegates, industry leaders and decision-makers. Prince Faisal is the Gas Regulator in Saudi Arabia and is distinguished for his role in advancing the development of the petrochemical industry, both upstream and downstream. He is also the vice chairman of Saudi Arabia’s National Program for Industrial Clusters.
The event program has attracted top-level speakers from leading chemical companies including Mohammed Al-Mady, GPCA chairman, vice chairman and CEO of SABIC, Hamad Rashid Al-Mohannadi, deputy chairman, Qatar Petroleum, and Dr Fahad Al Mubarak, chairman and managing director of Morgan Stanley Saudi Arabia.
Also confirmed as speakers who will share their insight and expertise are Stephen Pryor, president of ExxonMobil Chemical, Peter Cella, CEO of Chevron Phillips Chemical, Peter Huntsman, president and CEO, Huntsman Corporation, and Tom Crotty, Group Director, Ineos, Luther Kissam, CEO, ALBEMARLE.
To shed more light on trends and development of strategic importance to the industry, this year Annual Forum will witness organizing two seminars facilitated by leading global consultancy firms. The first will be facilitated by CMAI and its theme will be “Emerging Economies and Emerging Supply – A powerful chemical formula”. The 2nd seminar will be facilitated by CRA International and its theme will be “Chemical Industry Feedstocks: The changing face of chemical building blocks – a strategic perspective”.