WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 11642 [post_author] => 6150 [post_date] => 2019-10-15 13:29:39 [post_date_gmt] => 2019-10-15 12:29:39 [post_content] => The Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association (GPCA) will host its 14th Annual Forum in Dubai this coming 3 to 5 December, with HE Dr Mohammed bin Hamad Al Rumhi, Omani’s Minister of Oil and Gas, due to open proceedings. The leading minds across the chemical industry in the Gulf will discuss all aspects of the industry, personifying this years’ theme: ‘Winning through Strategic Partnerships’. At last year’s gathering, industry leaders emphasised the need to invest strategically, prepare for global growth and face the challenges of a changing business environment. The 2019 event is set to discuss how these observations and topics have developed over the last 12 months and look at how 2020 can generate further successes. Building on its 2018 success, the forum will feature a new masterclass series covering a range of topics, while a prestigious speaker list of senior industry leaders will make their views known throughout the conference. Some of the key topics to be discussed at the forum include: trade in a protectionist environment, the importance of human capital for fostering business competitiveness, and the future outlook for the petrochemical industry. There will also be seminars discussing the global chemicals market, innovation, disruptive technologies and the future of plastics.   A-LIST CONFERENCE The GPCA Annual Forum is widely regarded as the foremost chemical industry meeting in the Arabian Gulf region and has developed a reputation for providing the highest quality expert-led discussions. To keep 2019 in line with these high expectations, key speakers for the conference will represent some of the world’s largest chemical firms; they include Yousef Al-Benyan, CEO of SABIC and GPCA chairman, who will present the opening remarks; Bob Patel, CEO of LyondellBasell and president of the International Council of Chemical Associations (ICCA), who will deliver the keynote address; Karen McKee, president of ExxonMobil Chemical Company; Saori Dubourg, member of the board of executive directors of BASF; and Eelco Hoekstra, chairman of the executive board and CEO of Royal Vopak. Other esteemed speakers include Darren Davis, CEO of Ma’aden, and Christian Kullmann, chairman of the executive board of Evonik Industries. Davis and Kullmann will discuss different partnership scenarios and how to unlock growth opportunities through innovation and sustainability. Their discussion points will be complemented by Adam Sieminski, president of the King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center (KAPSARC).   CHANGE-MAKING DEALS The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries are emerging as a leading region in the production and export of chemicals. This is due to regional players focusing on generating new and existing partnerships locally and internationally, investing in high-growth markets and building critical mass to increase industry competitiveness. In the last 12 months, there have been $14.2bn worth of mega-projects and mergers and acquisition deals taking place in the Arabian Gulf – an outstanding testament to the development and importance of the region. Many of these projects will be discussed and evaluated in depth during the forum with presentations and speeches from those involved. Details of the $9bn Amiral project by Saudi Aramco and Total will be presented by Jean-Jacques Mosconi, senior vice-president refining and petrochemicals at Total; The $2.2bn Sipchem-Sahara merger will be discussed in detail by Saleh Bahamdan, CEO of Sahara International Petrochemicals Company; and the downstream integration of Oman Oil Company and Orpic (estimated to produce $3bn in returns over its implementation period) is to be presented by Musab Al-Mahruqi, group CEO of Oman Oil and Orpic Group. Dr Abdulwahab Al-Sadoun, GPCA’s secretary general, comments: “With change-making deals such as Saudi Aramco’s $10bn initial public offering – billed as the largest IPO in history – and its acquisition of a 70 per cent stake in SABIC, the Arabian Gulf region has dominated global headlines, making the annual GPCA forum the place to be this December to obtain first hand intelligence about the latest developments shaping global and regional markets, inform your business strategy and build long lasting strategic partnerships.” Al-Sadoun adds: “Starting from humble beginnings in 2006, the forum has emerged as the largest chemical gathering of senior industry leaders in the Arabian Gulf, consistently attracting over 2,000 delegates from over 50 countries across the globe, offering an unparalleled platform to gain exclusive insight into current and future business trends, meet with senior industry executives from some of the largest chemical firms globally and uncover new ways of stimulating business growth. Uniquely positioned in one of the central logistics hubs globally, the forum has successfully connected east and west, serving as an exclusive getaway to chemical markets globally.” gpcaforum.net [post_title] => GPCA: Winter Gulf trip [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => gpca-winter-gulf-trip [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2019-10-15 13:32:29 [post_modified_gmt] => 2019-10-15 12:32:29 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://www.hcblive.com/?p=11642 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw )