Late Dr Ibrahim Ibn Salamah (1940–2021), Vice Chairman and Managing Director of SABIC, was bestowed with the 7th GPCA Legacy Award “Al-Rowad” at a special award ceremony during the 19th Annual GPCA Forum at Exhibition World Bahrain. 

GPCA held its annual award ceremony for the first time in the Kingdom of Bahrain, under the patronage of His Highness Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, His Majesty’s Representative for Humanitarian Works and Youth Affairs, Bahrain, and Chairman of the Board of Directors, Bapco Energies, and hosted by GPIC.

The Award ceremony was attended by esteemed regional dignitaries from Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, including Eng. Khalil Bin Ibrahim Bin Salamah, Vice Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources for Industrial Affairs, Saudi Arabia, who accepted the Award on his late father’s behalf.

Dr Ibn Salamah was recognised with GPCA Legacy Award for his visionary leadership and pioneering contributions to the development of SABIC during the 1983–1998 tenure and the broader chemical and petrochemical industry in Saudi Arabia and the Arabian Gulf. 

As one of SABIC’s founding fathers, he played a pivotal role in transforming the company from a bold national vision into a globally competitive chemical enterprise, positioning the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as a leading hub for commodity chemicals.

Joining SABIC at its inception in 1976, Dr Ibn Salamah guided the company through its formative years, spearheading strategic expansions into new value chains and international markets. 

Under his leadership, SABIC became one of the top 25 diversified chemical companies in the world, exporting to over 75 countries. 

As a great proponent of GCC co-operation, Dr. Ibn Salamah – alongside the late Dr Ghazi Al-Gosaibi and Eng. Abdulaziz Al Zamil – helped to establish the Gulf Petrochemical Industries Company (GPIC), a joint venture between Bapco Energies of Bahrain, SABIC of Saudi Arabia, and Petrochemical Industries Company (PIC) of Kuwait.

On the posthumous award, Dr Abdulwahab Al Sadoun, Secretary General, GPCA, said: "The GPCA Legacy Award was established in 2017 to honour the visionaries who laid the foundations for a globally competitive petrochemical and chemical industry in the GCC. Dr. Ibrahim Ibn Salamah was one such visionary leader who exemplified the perseverance and values which made this dream a reality."

"Despite foreign skepticism at a time of great challenges, over his 22-year tenure he successfully steered SABIC from a nascent enterprise into a global petrochemical powerhouse. His legacy will live on for generations and continue to inspire the current and future leaders of our industry to take it onto new heights," he stated.

Dr. Ibrahim Ibn Salamah is the latest industry pioneer to be recognized with the GPCA Legacy Award alongside Dr. Mohamed Hamed Al Rumhy, former Minister of Energy and Minerals, Oman (6th GPCA Legacy Award, 2024); Eng. Hamad Rashid Al-Mohannadi, former General Manager, and Chairman, QAPCO and Founding Board Member, GPCA (5th GPCA Legacy Award, 2023); Mohammed Al-Mady, former Vice Chairman and CEO, SABIC, and Founding Chairman, GPCA (4th GPCA Legacy Award, 2022); H.R.H. Prince Faisal Bin Turki Bin Abdulaziz AISaud, Advisor to the Royal Court and former Advisor to the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Saudi Arabia and Yousef Bin Omair, former Minister of Petroleum and Natural Resources, UAE, former Group CEO, ADNOC and former Chairman, Borouge (3rd GPCA Legacy Award, 2021); Abdulaziz Al Zamil (1941 – 2019), former Minister of Industry and Electricity, Saudi Arabia, and former Chairman, SABIC (2nd GPCA Legacy Award, 2019); and Dr. Ghazi Al-Gosaibi (1940-2010), former Minister of Industry and Electricity, Saudi Arabia, and founding Chairman, SABIC; Yousef Al Shirawi (1927 – 2012), former Minister of Development and Industry, Bahrain; and Abdulbaqi Al-Nouri (1929 – 2010), former Chairman and MD, PIC, Kuwait (1st GPCA Legacy Award, 2017).

Delegates at the forum had the opportunity to explore the lifelong journeys of past Award honorees through a specially curated Walk of Fame and uncover the history of the chemical industry in the region. 

Now in its 7th edition, the GPCA Legacy Award takes place on an annual basis and honors individuals, who have made extraordinary contributions to foster and strengthen the chemical industry in one or more of the GCC states.

GPCA was established in 2006 to represent the downstream hydrocarbon industry in the Arabian Gulf. Today, the association voices the common interests of more than 250 member companies from the chemical and allied industries, accounting for over 95 percent of chemical output in the GCC.

The industry makes up the second largest manufacturing sector in the region, producing over USD 108 billion worth of products every year.-TradeArabia News Service