GCC fertiliser industry on a ‘growth path’

Manama : Minister of Oil, Shaikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, yesterday, inaugurated the 8th Fertiliser Conference of the Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Union (GPCA) highlighting the “huge growth in population” and the “urgent need to speed up food production” as a “great opportunity for fertiliser producers in the GCC.”

“There is a dramatic rise in the world population,” the minister said adding: “It is expected to increase by 6.5 billion to 9.6 billion by 2050.”

This, according to Shaikh Mohammed, offers tremendous growth opportunities for fertiliser producers in the GCC, which is an important global centre for the chemical fertiliser industry.

Addressing the conference the minister also stressed the need to have true strategic partnership and cooperation to overcome the challenges represented by climate change, conflicts and migration to continue on the path of sustainable development. 

“The GCC countries and the Middle East and North Africa region should adopt the vision of the United Nations, the five pillars of which are “individuals”, “planet”, “prosperity”, “partnerships” and “peace” as the framework through which to achieve sustainability,” he told the participants of the conference held at the Ritz Carlton Hotel Bahrain.This year the event, hosted by Bahrain for the first time, is held under the slogan: “New Beginnings: Return to Growth”. 

The Minister also expressed his confidence in the ability of the fertiliser industry to improve and create effective food systems through cooperation that will directly benefit the local agricultural sector and the GDP.

Participants from the United States, the United Kingdom, China and many Gulf, Arab and European countries attended the conference. Dr Saad Abu Al-Maati, President of the Arab Fertilizer Union, Dr Abdulrahman Jawahery, Chairman of Gulf Petrochemical Industries Company, Dr Abdulwahab Al Saadoon, Secretary General of the Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Union (GPIC), and a number of dignitaries were present. The event is being organised by the GPCA in cooperation with GPIC and in coordination with the National Oil and Gas Authority (NOGA). 

The Minister also inaugurated an accompanying exhibition, which was attended by a number of local and international companies.

The three-day event, which began Tuesday, concludes today.