Date Published: 13 September 2007
GPPA Launch
It is now four months since the successful launch of the GPPA at the Dubai Plast Pro conference in Dubai.
During the conference we were able to meet journalists from the technical press and many prospective members.
As part of the proceedings Borouge hosted a dinner at the Fairmont Hotel for the conference delegates. The GPPA was able to set up its display and MD Rob Lawrence and Vice President Bjorn Klofelt manned the table. Many guests spent time learning about the GPPA concept and taking a first look at the website (www.yourppa.org) which was activated that day.
The diverse backgrounds of those enquiring about the GPPA confirmed our belief that the idea of pulling together the entire value chain was the correct approach. The high level of interest was also a great encouragement for us at that early stage.
During the three days of presentations at the conference many of the speakers expressed their solidarity with our initiative. Sabic, Hepworth, Anti-corrosion Protection Systems and Reliance were among those who referred specifically to GPPA as fulfilling a need long felt within the industry throughout the region.
At GPPA we are now in the process of converting these good wishes into signed expressions of interest. The more we have, the stronger is our foundation for the future.
To do this we have been moving around the GCC area and beyond to meet our potential members on their own ground and encourage them to participate in our activities.
In July Rob Lawrence accompanied Mario Andrade to Tehran as a follow up on a Dubai seminar given specifically for Iranian potential members. They made visits to the Iran National Gas Co. and PES one of the major suppliers of PE pipe in the country. Some useful and encouraging contacts were made with the Iran Plastic Pipe Manufacturers Association. The GPPA has clearly made an excellent first impression in Iran.
Later visits took in Muscat and Doha. In both locations the GPPA has active supporters who have been very successful in setting up promotional meetings through their network of local contacts.
The visit to Doha was particularly busy and gave the opportunity for Ahmed Al Shamsi and Ahmed Al Muhairi to contribute to the GPPA effort. Peter Hayes of Hepworth PME in Qatar acted as host in Doha and proved to be invaluable as a door-opener. He managed interviews with representatives of just about every part of the value chain from Kharama (water utility) and Ashqal (Drainage) through to consultants, architects and contractors.
Of course we have been knocking on local doors in the Emirates as well and we are happy that our list of interested organisations is now over thirty and still steadily increasing.
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L to R: Ahmed Al Shamsi (GPPA), Peter Hayes (Hepworth), Mohamed Ali (Hepworth) ,Rob Lawrence (GPPA), Ahmed Al Muhairi (Borouge) |
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