Four months to the day after its founding, the Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association (GPCA) opened its headquarters in Dubai.

The new office on Sheikh Zayed Road, at the commercial heart of Dubai, will be the main administrative centre for the association as it builds its membership ranks and develops common positions on industry issues. These common positions will then form the basis of the association’s work in representing the interests of members in the region and beyond.
The GPCA was founded in March 2006 by eight founding members. According to an association statement, it already has a burgeoning list of companies wishing to become members or affiliates.
 Mohamed Al-Mady, vice chairman and CEO of Sabic and the first GPCA chairman, said at the opening: “The petrochemical and chemical industry is a major contributor to the wealth of the region and is one of the region’s largest employers. 
“The GPCA was established to ensure that the industry finds a common purpose and realises common ambitions in the region and on the international stage and to build a greater awareness of the importance of the industry among our many stakeholders.
“The opening of this office is a small but symbolically significant step in achieving this purpose.”