GPCA Chairman named as world's most influential personality in chemicals sector

Mr. Al-Mady, who is also Vice Chairman and CEO of SABIC, is one of two key GPCA figures who have made it to the list of Top 40 Power Players in the field of chemicals worldwide that is published annually by the London-based international industry magazine, ICIS Chemical Business. He was ranked No.2 in the top 40 list in 2006. The other GPCA figure in the Top 40 Power Players list for 2007 is Mr. Hamad Al-Terkait, Vice Chairman of GPCA and President and CEO of EQUATE, who has been ranked No.11.

The announcement by ICIS Chemical Business, a highly respected industry commentator, is a major boost to the GPCA, which has its headquarters in Dubai, and comes close on the heels of the successful conclusion of its second annual forum in December 2007. Both Al-Mady and Mr. Al-Terkait, who represent founding members of the GPCA, have won recognition by ICIS for being significant players on the world chemicals stage.

Commenting on the honour bestowed on the two key GPCA personalities, Mr. Abdullah Bin Zaid Al-Hagbani, Secretary General of GPCA, said: 'This is an important milestone for both the GPCA and the region, and further reinforces our mandate as the regional representative for the petrochemicals and chemicals industry. That Mr. Al-Mady and Mr. Al-Terkait have again been recognised as leaders in their field is ample testimony to the fact that this region is fast emerging as a global hub for the petrochemicals and chemicals industry'.

The top 40 power-players, selected by the magazine includes the most influential figures in and around the chemicals industry, from industry executives to association leaders, politicians to environmentalists.

The exclusive line-up of power-players also includes Len Blavatnik, Owner and Chairman - Access Industries, Anthony Leung, Chairman, Blackstone Greater China, and board member of China National Bluestar, Jurgen Hambrecht, CEO BASF, Michael Dolan, President - ExxonMobil Chemicals, Charles Holiday, Chairman and CEO, Dupont, Jim Ratcliffe, Chairman, INEOS, Mukesh Ambani, Chairman and Managing Director - Reliance Industries, Jack Gerard, President and CEO American Chemistry Council, Wu Yi, Vice Premier, and Gholamhossein Nejabat, Managing Director - National Petrochemical Company.

The magazine's criteria for inclusion were whether that person had made a significant impact, in the past 12 months or so, on a company, a policy or regulation, and if an outsider, whether the person has made a significant impact on the way in which the chemical industry performs.