The forum, “Shaping a Sustainable Future with Chemicals”, will take place in Riyadh for the first time from December 6 to 8.

Saudi Arabia's Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman will deliver the inaugural speech and chair a dialogue session with Gulf energy ministers.

GPCA Secretary General Dr. Abdulwahab Al-Sadoun said this year’s forum is being held amid extraordinary circumstances in the world.

The chemical industry is facing several challenges, most notably in regards to climate, food security and the economy, creating uncertainty over the future of the industry.

Al-Sadoun said he was looking forward to discussions that would provide solutions to global challenges and highlight how digitization and innovation can contribute to the industry.

Participants will also spotlight plans set in place by companies to commit to their obligations toward sustainability and decarbonization.

Welcome remarks will be delivered by Eng. Abdulrahman Al-Fageeh, Acting Chief Executive Officer of SABIC and Chairman of the GPCA.

It will be followed by an inaugural address by Prince Abdulaziz.

Energy ministers will hold a panel on “Balancing net-zero ambitions in the energy sector with growth – A policymaker’s balancing act.”

Keynote sessions on December 6 will feature Amin Nasser, President and CEO of Saudi Aramco, and Dr. Martin Brudermuller, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of BASF.

Talks at the three-day event will focus on the most urgent issues affecting the sector, including the transformation to clean energy, changing the concepts of environmental and social practices, restructuring future supply chains of chemicals, and innovation in the agri-nutrients industry.

The GPCA annual forum was launched in 2006 and has become the key event in the chemicals industry regionally and globally.

More than 2,500 representatives of around 600 companies from 91 countries will participate in this year’s edition.