GPCA '14: GCC should not over rely on natural resources - Al-Mady

DUBAI (ICIS)--The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) petrochemicals industry should not be overly reliant on natural resources on future growth amid the current global economic environment, SABIC chairman and CEO, said on Monday.
 

"Abundant feedstock is indeed a source of competitive advantage. We can see this in the Gulf countries and more recently in the US where shale gas and oil production has grown rapidly,
yet I underline we cannot rely solely on natural resources," Al-Mady, also the chairman of the Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association, told delegates at the 9th Annual GPCA Forum in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

"We expect success to come to those companies that generate innovative products, services, processes and business models to gain competitive advantage. These companies will stay head of the change," he said.

"In this framework, companies which are able to attract and develop talent has been proven to grow faster and be more resilient in downturns," Al-Mady said.

There are two trends that the industry and its stakeholders need to tackle. Firstly, they need to address the question as to whether they should reap benefits from established competitive advantages or react to unforeseen events related to feedstocks or on the value chain, according to Al-Mady.

GCC petrochemical players will also need to address the ever-growing availability of information as well as a new generation of people who have adopted ways of learning to become successful, he said.

"Big data is indeed with us with its blessings and challenges and those are able to harness its power or attract those who able to do so will be well positioned to shape the future, Al-Mady said.

"This is why I emphasise the wisdom of government in anticipating events and creating the right regulatory and investment environment in this time of change," he added.