GPCA 14th Supply Chain Conference to address changes of chemical supply chains

The Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association (GPCA), the voice of the chemical industry in the Arabian Gulf, is pleased to announce that its leading annual Supply Chain Conference will return for its 14th edition on May 16-17, 2023 at Le Méridien Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia to address ‘New Age Chemical Supply Chains in a Changing World’.

According to WEF’s “Global Value Chain Barometer”, over the last year, climate-related risk events were up 96%, technological disruptions increased by 113% and geopolitical disruptions skyrocketed by 311% compared to 2021. As supply chain leaders face ongoing disruptions, including climate change, labor and supply shortages, energy supply challenges, cybersecurity, global trade and geo-political conflict, inflation and many more unpredictable events, they are increasingly required to make connected, contextual and continuous decisions.

 The 14th GPCA Supply Chain will convene an impressive speaker line-up comprised of leading industry experts from the region and the world to discuss what the future competitive supply chain will look like, the importance of infrastructure optimization in complex supply chains, advancing sustainability through supply chains, the impact of regional regulatory changes and lowering scope 3 emissions across the supply chain, among other topics.

On day one, 16 May, delegates will hear from Saleh Al-Suwaiti, CEO, FAHSS-TUV and Chairman, Supply Chain Committee, GPCA, who will deliver the opening remarks, as well as Patrick Hore, Global Vertical Head of Chemicals, Maersk and Ibrahim Bin Dayel, Director, Global SC Solids, SABIC, who will present the opening keynote address. The opening remarks on day two, 17 May, will be presented by Aslam Moola, Commercial & Business Development Director, Vopak ME and Vice-Chair, Supply Chain Committee, GPCA, while Raveen Guliani, VP, Logistics & Trade Development, DP World UAE, will lead a plenary address on ‘The impact of geopolitics on supply chains’.

Other esteemed speakers at the conference include Turky Bin Suwaidan, Freight Train Operations Director, Saudi Railway Company; Abdulmutalib Ghazai, MSc. P.Eng., Rail Infrastructure Director, Oman-Etihad Rail Co. (OERC); Ahmed Alkatheeri, SVP, Supply Chain Management, Borouge; Tobias Maier, Regional CFO, DHL Global Forwarding, and CEO, Saloodo; Dheeraj Bhatia, Senior Managing Director, Middle East, Hapag Lloyd; Bassel El Dabbagh, MD – Levant, Egypt & Saudi Arabia, CEVA Logistics; Gina Fyffe, CEO, Integra Petrochemicals; Mirko Pahl, Partner & Director, Berlin, BCG; Sachin Halbe, Partner, Strategic Operations, Kearney MEA; Raja Boufakheraldeen, Country Chief Executive, Oman, Bureau Veritas; and Nico Schuetz, CEO, DHL Supply Chain Middle East.

Dr. Abdulwahab Al-Sadoun, Secretary General, GPCA, commented: “Navigating through constant economic, environmental and social disruptions and effectively mitigating risk, while maximizing reward has become part and parcel of today’s supply chain management. Mega-trends affecting chemical supply chains are growing in frequency and complexity, making it essential for chemical supply chain leaders to adopt future-proof strategies and super charge their supply chain management plans with resilience and agility in mind.”

“There is no better platform than the GPCA Supply Chain Conference to meet with the industry’s topmost leaders and hear from experts across the whole value chain about the incessant challenges and disruptions impacting on chemical supply chains and gain invaluable insight on ways to mitigate and address risk.”

The 14th GPCA Supply Chain Conference will host the 4th GPCA Supply Chain Excellence Awards at the gala dinner on day one, 16 May, when winners will be announced across four categories: Supply Chain Innovation, Best LSP of The Year, Excellence in Sustainability, and Women in Supply Chain.