Third annual GPCA Forum to debate the impact of the global financial crisis on the petrochemicals industry

Attendees at the Middle East's largest petrochemicals conference will have much to discuss as the global economic crisis has exacerbated the cyclical decline which was already forecast for late 2008.

Industry leaders will focus on ways of tackling the difficult times ahead even as several global producers report year-over-year demand declines of 20% or more.

One of the speakers on the opening day, Hassan Ahmed, Managing Director, HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. will make a thought-provoking presentation titled "The Financial Crisis: Where Does the Global Chemical Sector Go from Here?".

The impact of a steep downturn in the petrochemical cycle will also be addressed as part of other sessions throughout the program agenda.

"The world-class agenda that we have developed for this year's GPCA Forum delivers the scope and depth of content on the most pressing issues facing our marketplace, especially the turmoil in financial markets around the world. This GPCA Forum offers a comprehensive program of timely, relevant general sessions that have been designed to address the issues affecting today's global petrochemicals industry."

said Abdullah S. Bin Zaid Al Hagbani, Secretary General of GPCA.

He added: "There is absolutely no doubt about the Gulf's strategic importance in terms of the global petrochemicals and chemicals association. By working towards a common goal and sharing our resources we can further enhance the role of this region in international debate, facilitate regional cooperation and ensure growth that is both sustainable and socially responsible. We are confident that the GPCA will play an important role towards this end".

Mohamed Al-Mady, Chairman of GPCA and Vice Chairman & CEO, SABIC will make the welcome address to the delegates on the inaugural day.

Sessions on Day one on December 3 include "Meeting Energy and Feedstock Needs for the Region", led by Abdulla Bin Hamad Al-Attiyah, Deputy Premier, Minister of Energy and Industry, Qatar; Chairman and Managing Director, Qatar Petroleum; "Managing Growth: Where Are the New Global Feedstock Sources?" led by Jeffrey Lipton, CEO, Nova Chemical; and "The Energy Challenge: Implications for the Middle East and the Global Chemical Industry", led by Ben van Beurden, Executive Vice President, Shell Chemicals.

Two breakout sessions are also being offered on Human Resources and Supply Chain.

The sessions on day two include - "Managing Growth and Competitiveness in a Cyclical Industry", led by Abdulrahman Jawahery, Board Member, GPCA and General Manager, Gulf Petrochemical Industries Co. (GPIC); "The New Trend in China's Petrochemicals Market", led by Li Xihong, President/Economics and Development Research Institute, Sinopec; "The Role of Green Technologies in a Global Chemical Environment", led by Jose Carlos Grubisich, CEO, ETH Bioenergia S.A.; "The Future of Chemicals in the Middle East", led by Florian Budde, Director, McKinsey & Company, Inc.; and "The Emergence of Iran's Petrochemical Industry and its Role in Driving Regional Growth", led by Mohammad Ali Zardbani, Board Member (IPCC).