Major players in the petrochemicals industry will focus on the Gulf polymer industry, the main challenges and developments in plastic conversion at a conference to be held in Sharjah next year.
 
The fifth International Conference for Plastics Conversion (GPCA PlastCon 2014) will take place from April 7 to 10 at the Expo Centre Sharjah in association with industry body Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association (GPCA).

GPCA PlastCon 2014 will be an integral part of the second international plastics, printing and packaging exhibition Plastivision Arabia 2014, the premier biennial event of the regional petrochemicals industry.
 
“We tied up with All India Plastics Manufacturers Association (AIPMA), the oldest and the largest apex body of the plastic industry in India, for the launch of Plastivision Arabia in 2012. And the result was the phenomenal success of the launch edition,” said Saif Mohammed Al Midfa, director-general, Expo Centre Sharjah.

“Now, for its second edition, along with AIPMA, Plastivision Arabia will have a new partner, the GPCA, which is known as the voice of the region’s petrochemicals and chemicals industry,” he said.

According to GPCA figures, the GCC petrochemicals and chemicals capacity is forecast to reach 191.2 million tons by 2020, a staggering 50 per cent increase from the 129.2 million tons recorded in 2012.

In 2012, petrochemicals production capacity in the GCC  increased by 6 per cent, despite a slowdown in global markets due to the recession in Europe, inventory discrepancies and a deterioration in manufacturing, according to the GPCA Annual Report 2012.

“The Gulf petrochemical and chemical industry is significant to the region’s economic growth and development, contributing towards the non-oil GDP of the region in a big way,” said Dr Abdulwahab Al-Sadoun, secretary general, GPCA.

“Through GPCA PlastCon 2014, we aim to further educate the industry through our conference and seminars on potential plastic processors who can not only procure machines on the show floor but also learn more about the latest technology and industry developments through the conference,” Dr Al-Sadoun added. - TradeArabia News Service