Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association hosts special reception for International Council of Chemical Associations

The dinner was attended by key representatives of chemical producers, top industry executives and professionals from the region and around the world.

The ICCA is the worldwide voice of the chemical industry, representing chemical manufacturers and producers all over the world.

Member associations are from countries that account for more than 70% of chemical manufacturing operations, an industry with a turnover exceeding $2.8 trillion annually.

More than 40% of this production is traded internationally.

The ICCA plays a central role in the exchange of information within the international industry, and in the development of position statements on matters of policy that are significant to the business of chemistry.

ICCA is also the body that represents the chemicals industry in various leading international organizations that work on issues of health, environment and trade, and include the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), the World Trade Organization (WTO), and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation & Development (OECD).

Among the ICCA representatives who were present at the dinner were Jack Gerard, President and CEO, The American Chemistry Council, Alain Perroy, Director General, European Chemical Industry Council (Cefic), Stephen Elliot, Chief Executive, Chemical Industries Association, Beat Moser, Director General, Chemie Pharma Schweiz, Jean Pelin, Director General, Union des Industries Chimiques (UIC), Wilfried Sahm, Director General, Verband der Chemischen Industrie e.V. (VCI), Yves Verschueren, Managing Director, Essenscia, Tetsuo Nishide, Director General, Japan Chemical Industry Association (JCIA), Nelson Pereira dos Reis, Executive Vice President, Association of the Brasilian Chemical Industry (ABIQUIM) and Terence Koh from Singapore Chemical Industry Council.

The GPCA representatives at the function included Abdullah Bin Zaid Al-Hagbani, Secretary General, GPCA, Mr. Roy Vike Vardheim, Chairman of SH&E Committee, and Mr. Yusuf E. Fakhroo, Chairman, Human Resources Committee.

Welcoming the guests to the dinner reception, Abdullah Bin Zaid Al-Hagbani, Secretary General, GPCA, said:

'This special reception for the distinguished members of ICCA is an excellent networking platform, an opportunity for bonding between chemical associations, and to understand the goals and programmes of each of our respective chemical associations. We are happy to note that ICCA members have been closely following the progress of the GPCA, and some of you have even participated at our annual forums. The GPCA looks forward to working even more closely with member associations of the ICCA in the future to help promote the initiatives undertaken on behalf of the global chemical industry'.

Mr. Al-Hagbani was presented a memento by the ICCA in recognition of his efforts to bring about greater collaboration between the ICCA and GPCA.

GPCA is currently exploring the possibility of joining ICCA's Responsible Care programme.

Responsible Care is a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative of the global chemical industry to help maintain a healthier environment and society.

This topic formed an integral part of the agenda of the ICCA's Steering Committee meeting in Dubai.

ICCA promotes and co-ordinates Responsible Care and other voluntary chemical industry initiatives, advancing best practices within the industry.

Started in 1985, Responsible Care is now underway around the world in 53 associations, who work with their member companies to improve health, safety and environmental performance.

International observers have predicted that the Gulf and Middle East will become the number one region for the chemical industry, producing most major plastics and chemicals, and increasingly downstream and differentiated products.

By 2015 this region would have more than doubled the capacity of ethylene production, accounting for 48% of new capacity worldwide.

The GPCA projects a surge in the export of petrochemicals from the Gulf at more than 50 million tons this year.

By 2010, petrochemicals industries in the Gulf will grow by another 13%.