Seventy students from across the GCC learnt about the fertiliser industry as they took part in the Leaders of Tomorrow (LOT) programme organised by the  Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association (GPCA) recently in Oman.

The 8th edition of the Leaders of Tomorrow (LOT) programme was held during the recently concluded 9th GPCA Fertilizer Convention held in Muscat.

The event was held under the patronage of Dr Fuad Bin Jaafar Bin Mohammed Al-Sajwani, Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Oman, who inaugurated the exhibition on day one. Under the theme “New frontiers and opportunities”, the convention highlighted the role of fertilisers in ensuring sustainable agriculture and global food security in a world with rapidly growing population and rising demand for resources, said a statement from the association.

The students were  sponsored by five GPCA member companies and enjoyed an opportunity to learn about the regional fertiliser industry and network with senior industry leaders, it said.

The seminar began with an introduction to Leaders of Tomorrow and GPCA, followed by a presentation by Samir Al Abdrabbuh, executive vice president Agri-Nutrients, Sabic, who shared an overview of the fertiliser industry and his own career journey.

The interactive seminar led by Argus was especially designed to provide students with hands-on experience and case studies in addition to the different career opportunities in the industry, it added.

As part of the activities on day one, participants enjoyed a site visit to Oman India Fertiliser Company (OMIFCO)’s headquarters in Sur, Oman, where they learned about the company’s operations through presentations by OMIFCO professionals and enjoyed a tour around its facilities and plant.

LOT is an initiative by GPCA together with its stakeholders that aims to bridge the gap between academia and the industry and promote STEM education.

With its first edition launched during the Annual Forum in 2016, LOT aims to gear students up with the hands-on experience and skillset required after graduating from universities and starting their career in the industry. – TradeArabia News Service