Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association (GPCA) recently hosted a special dinner reception for members of the International Council of Chemical Associations (ICCA) who held their bi-annual Steering Committee meeting in Dubai.

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 percent of chemical manufacturing operations, an industry with a turnover exceeding $2.8 trillion annually. More than 40 percent 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, CEO, 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, Roy Vike Vardheim, chairman of SH&E Committee, and Yusuf E Fakhroo, chairman, Human Resources Committee.

“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,” said secretary general, GPCA, Abdullah bin Zaid Al-Hagbani.

“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”.

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 reg