One of the key strategic objectives, crystallized by GPCA is to “Advocate Common Industry Positions.” Driven by that, GPCA's Board of Directors established in mid-2009 GPCA's Advocacy Committee to undertake activities and programs relevant to the advocacy task and to serve as a strong advocacy voice for GPCA members with regional government entities, the media and the public. It also promotes legislations and policies that are beneficial to the petrochemical and chemical industry as well as to promote sustainable growth of the chemical industry in the Gulf region and GCC economies. This entails developing positions papers on issues of common interest and encouraging the formulation of policies that support the sustainable development and growth of petrochemicals and chemicals businesses. To help address current and future challenges, facing the Gulf producers, GPCA Advocacy Committee has developed and published a number of position papers. It is also in the process of carrying out studies and analyses to help formulate relevant standards and policies.

GPCA's Advocacy Committee has been set to protect, strengthen and effectively represent the chemical industry within the GCC’s governments’ legislative and rule-making processes. The committee works towards finding right solutions, which safeguard the common interest of the Gulf petrochemical and chemical producers. GPCA Advocacy Committee's areas of focus include:

1. Advocating Free Trade:

Strong, thriving petrochemical and chemical industries in the Gulf region is fundamental to the regional sustainable development. To stay strong and thrive, the regional petrochemical and chemical industries need fair and open international trade through, in particular, a significant reduction in tariff and non-tariff barriers. Indeed, without trade, there can be no economic growth and therefore no sustainable development. GPCA advocates the creation of a climate, in which petrochemical and chemical producers can produce and trade their goods under clear rules with predictable consequences, and investors can plan ahead with confidence. Key to such a climate is less intervention by governments, an end to the protectionism and the disproportionate tariffs burden, often imposed on the petrochemical and chemical exports from the Gulf region. Given that, GPCA's Advocacy Committee focuses on:

• Advocating the business case for free trade with a view to Influencing the debate and public policy.
• Providing radar for emerging trends and issues.
• Delivering learning by doing and by sharing through awareness events on trade remedies’ regulations, tariff and non-tariff barriers to trade, including technical barriers, environmental measures, etc.

2. Assisting in Formulating Conducive Public Policies

GPCA believes that simplification and consistency of legislation, impact assessments, consultation of stakeholders before formulating decisions on implementation measures are taken, and right application of legal principles (i.e. precautionary and proportionality principles) will help develop workable legal framework for chemicals from a long term perspective. GPCA is also committed to balanced regional policies and regulations that allow free market to supply global consumers with safe, reliable and affordable petrochemical and chemical products. As a result, GPCA Advocacy Committee aims at bringing a collective business voice on public policy of common interest to GPCA members. The formulation of standards and legislations, followed by the correct interpretation and implementation of the main principles and instruments, underpinning those legislations and policies, is one of GPCA’s top priorities, particularly in the field of environmental laws. Therefore, GPCA follows with attention several key relevant dossiers.

3. Industry Image & Reputation Programs

GPCA believes that information and dialogue have the power to create change in our: industry, communities and the world. Our member companies are investing in the future through community outreach projects, ground-breaking research and initiatives that protect public health and the environment. GPCA has taken several initiatives to reflect the industry's commitment to adopting international best practices and initiatives, including:

• GPCA Responsible Care Initiative launched in December 2009.
• Gulf Industry Image Surveys (e.g. Plastic Image Regional Survey, executed in 2nd half of 2009).

Therefore, GPCA Advocacy Committee seeks to ensure that key decision makers throughout the GCC region are fully apprised of the contribution that GPCA and its members are making. In conclusion, GPCA interacts with legislative and executive bodies of the GCC Secretariat and the GCC governments on issues of common interest to the Gulf petrochemical and chemical industry. In particular, GPCA through initiatives such as its Responsible Care Initiative focuses attention on improving public health and the environment and on promoting healthy and safe chemical production and handling practices. The Advocacy Committee provides GPCA with the voice and information necessary to further these objectives. From opinion papers and fact sheets, GPCA works to protect the common interest of the Gulf producers and, at the same time, working on relevant fields such as the environment and public health, and promoting healthy and safe chemical production and handling for the future through the endorsement and implantation of international best practices.

The scope of the committee is the public policy issues that come before GPCA in areas related to international trade matters, import licensing, technical barriers, non-tariff barriers and World Trade Organization (WTO) issues, affecting the members of the GPCA, but not limited to business.

The committee supports the Board of Directors by discussing and analysing international trade matters and WTO implications that come before GPCA but not limited to anti-dumping. The committee aims at addressing various issues that may originate within the Board or the committee or from other GPCA committees, staff or member companies. GPCA Advocacy Committee develops GPCA positions on such issues for the Board to review and approve them. In developing such positions, the committee adopts practices to assure any positions taken as well as represent a substantial consensus of GPCA Full Members. GPCA Advocacy Committee creates educational and awareness workshop for GPCA members and serves as a platform for knowledge sharing. It also safeguards and lobbies with the governmental entities. Moreover, it promotes the industry image at national and international levels and initiates necessary communications with the government through GPCA Secretariat. To coordinate the addressing of public policy issues with GPCA other working committees, if issues fall within their scope of activities, is another function, carried out by GPCA Advocacy Committee. It also recommends to the Board actions that GPCA should take to effectively address all public policy issues the committee judges worthwhile pursuing on behalf of GPCA. Such recommendations should be cost effective that would be required to achieve a favourable outcome for GPCA members. In addition, GPCA Advocacy Committee creates such workgroups from the committee membership or from other GPCA committees as is necessary to effectively fulfil the committee’s responsibilities. It also monitors public policy positions, taken by government bodies and other associations, as well as recommends the formation of coalitions with other groups if the committee determines that such efforts would aid in effectively addressing issues.

GPCA Advocacy Committee consists of no more than 8 members from GPCA Full Member companies. Nominations for the committee are made by the Board. No company shall have more than one representative on the committee. Committee members are appointed for a term of 2 years and may be reappointed to serve additional consecutive terms of 2 years. The Board may review the make-up of the committee on an annual basis and implement any changes deemed appropriate, including appointment of new members to replace old members to assure all Full Members have an opportunity to be represented.

GPCA Advocacy Committee: Committee Members

GPCA Advocacy Committee: Past Events