LONDON- The Gulf petrochemical industry has witnessed over the past years a strong revival that reinforced its position as a key resource for petrochemicals in the world. Production has increased from about 50 million tons in 2004, to more than 100 million metric tons currently, ranging from chemical products to fuel additives, polyvinyl and aromatics. The GCC states are planning to increase their share of petrochemicals production in the global market, up to 25% in 2025, but they face many challenges in this regard.
In order to support the Gulf petrochemicals sector, and to unify efforts to find a sophisticated Gulf strategy in the petrochemical industry in the region, the Gulf Organization for Industrial Consulting (GOIC), in cooperation with the IEC, will organize a workshop titled “Petrochemicals: key issues and strategy” during the period from August 26th to 27th, 2014, at the Rosewood Hotel in London. 
The workshop aims to provide a platform for decision-makers in the Gulf petrochemicals sector to exchange ideas in order to face the challenges of the future. The participants, using their expertise in long-term planning, will be able to develop strategic options allowing the possibility of effectively developing the petrochemicals industry.
This will further enhance the role of the GCC states in the global market and increase their contribution to the economic prosperity in the region.
The workshop targets senior management and senior staff of the industrial sector in the GCC countries, as well as investors, senior advisers from the public and private sectors, and workers close to the decision making process in the petrochemicals and related industries.
During its two-day sessions, the workshop will shed light on the Gulf petrochemicals sector where GOIC will provide an overview of the industry in the region. The sessions will then address the plenary topics of strategic energy issues, raw materials, demand for petrochemicals, in addition to major regional issues related to refineries.
A major source of petrochemicals based on the successful investing of steam cracking rising from raw materials and taking advantage of its derivatives, will be discussed during the workshop. The advantages and disadvantages of the main petrochemicals production from other sources will also be tackled.
The lecturers at the workshop will address the strategic advantage of the gas, the main role of basic blocks in petrochemicals, in addition to presentation of the key issues that affect the demand for their main derivatives. Sessions will also discuss the effectiveness of the major pricing mechanisms in the field of petrochemicals, marketing and trading, as well as the strategic role of the main drives of this sector in the world, and the strategic challenges ahead.
The workshop will be offered by the experts: John Kelly, Bob Townsend and Ismail al-Shafie. John Kelly, who heads a team of experienced advisers and trainers, has spent 35 years with Shell Chemicals Company in UK, the Netherlands and Germany.
Bob Townsend, on the other hand, is a senior vice president, specializing in olefins, particularly ethylene, propylene and polycarbonate plastic.
GOIC’s business development consultant, Eng. Ismail al-Shafie, will also participate in presenting the workshop. He has more than 20 years of experience in the chemicals and petrochemicals sector in the GCC countries.
GOIC seeks to promote individual and organizational capacities of the industrial sector in GCC countries and Yemen through its Training and Capacity Development Program (TCD).-ONA