The 18th Annual GPCA Forum took place for the first time in Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre, Muscat, Oman between 2-5 December 2024
Muscat, Oman, 10 December 2024 – The 18th Annual Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association (GPCA) Forum successfully concluded its first edition at Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre, Muscat, Oman between 2-5 December, as over 2,790 delegates ascended to the prestigious annual event to set the chemical industry’s agenda for 2025 and beyond. The forum combined a unique celebration of legacy, innovation and entrepreneurship as it introduced new initiatives dedicated to fostering an entrepreneurial ecosystem in the region and promoting sustainable solutions.
Held under the theme “Industry’s Next Chapter: Driving Sustainable Advancement for Global Progress”, the forum, hosted by OQ, included a fantastic array of features including the 3rd GPCA Youth Forum, the 6th GPCA Legacy Award “Al Rowad”, and the inaugural GPCA Startup Nexus. The 3rd GPCA Youth Forum, held under the theme “Youth Powering Tomorrow: Shaping a Sustainable Future”, reaped huge success, attracting over 380 young professionals and students from across the GCC for four days full of knowledge sharing, networking and enriching conversations.
The inaugural GPCA Startup Nexus featured 10 innovative startups, engaged in advancing the circular economy and climate action, for the opportunity to connect with investors, market their solutions and raise their profile in the chemical industry and beyond.
The inaugural initiative was a key feature at the forum this year, as it sought to create a network of mutual exchange that catalyzes collaboration and stimulates investments.
The GPCA Solutions Xchange Program returned for its 3rd edition, offering an invaluable platform to technology providers and chemical producers to promote their solutions to a broad audience and drive collaboration in sustainability, circular economy and digitalization. The GPCA Sustainability Pavilion, another recurring initiative during the Annual GPCA Forum, offered a captivating visual showcase of the Arabian Gulf chemical industry’s contribution to sustainability, and featured a carefully curated program about innovations in carbon capture and hydrogen, the role of digitalization and AI in advancing sustainability, and innovation in advanced recycling.
On 4 December 2024, the forum marked the launch of the Women in Chemicals Network in the Middle East, with the platform’s first in-person event taking place on the sidelines of the forum, featuring an array of networking opportunities and sessions comprising an expert presentation, panel discussion on Diversity and Inclusion and immersive leadership session.
Dr. Abdulwahab Al-Sadoun, Secretary General, GPCA, commented: “I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Ministry of Energy and Minerals in Oman as well as our host and valuable partner OQ, for their support in organizing another spectacular edition of the Annual GPCA Forum. Our Omani partners’ dedication to sustainability and innovation set the bar high for this and future forum editions and I hope that delegates had much to gain from the program, exhibition and diverse forum features. I look forward to welcoming chemical industry executives to the 19th Annual GPCA Forum next year in Manama, Bahrain, when senior industry leaders will converge once again to collaborate and strategize for the future.”
To learn more, visit: www.gpcaforum.com