Business & Money | Wednesday 4 May, 2016 1:10 pm |

DP World, Maersk Line and Yanbu University College won first-place awards for Supply Chain Innovation, Supply Chain Sustainability and Best GCC Academic Institution in Supply Chain respectively during the inaugural edition of the Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association (GPCA) Supply Chain Excellence Awards. 

 

The awards - open to all organizations engaged in supply chain and logistics operations in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries - aim to recognize and reward organizations and supply chain talent that have demonstrated vision, leadership and innovation in this field which enhance the global competitiveness of the chemical industry in the Arabian Gulf. Winners were selected from 22 entries from across the entire GCC in four categories and honoured during GPCA’s Supply Chain Conference in Dubai. 

 

“Being predominantly export-oriented with customers scattered over 170 countries, the region’s petrochemical industry has a very long and complex supply chain and thus, it represents over 30 percent of production costs, rendering ‘excellence’ in supply chain a key enabler for the global competitiveness of the industry,” said Dr. Abdulwahab Al-Sadoun, GPCA Secretary General. “We hope that these awards will motivate the Logistics Service Providers (LSPs) and other chemical industry partners to go the extra mile and share their investments in skill development and their success stories,” continued Dr. Al-Sadoun. 

 

Winners across categories were chosen for new and unique solutions that included:

• In the Innovation category, DP World was chosen for its work in its Container Terminal 3 (CT3), one of the world’s most advanced semi-automated terminals, representing innovation and technology.
• Maersk Line was recognized in the Sustainability category, for the carbon pact signed with UAE plastics producer Borouge, enabling the plastics producer to deliver its products globally to customers and markets with the lowest possible environmental footprint.
• Saudi Arabia’s Yanbu University College won Best GCC Academic Institution for its Bachelor of Science in Supply Chain Management and its Associate Degree in Materials Management Technology, which represent the best-in-class academic preparation for a career in the logistics and supply chain management position. 

 

The initiative also recognizes upcoming talent. A special student award was given to Bahraini student Amal Alsaffar for her research on the green supply chain for GPIC’s urea fertilizer distribution.

 

“The special category for students ‘Rising Star in Supply Chain’ highlights that we also advance future industry talent and realize the significant importance of investing in academic research,” said Dr. Al-Sadoun. The winning student from Bahrain shows the importance of adapting environmentally friendly activities in the logistics and road transport operations related to the petrochemicals field and the distribution of urea in particular. The expert jury was impressed with the different perspectives emphasized in Amal’s research.” 

 

Since its inception in 2006, the GPCA has put sharp focus on the importance of supply chain in the chemical industry’s drive further downstream. The 8th GPCA Supply Chain Conference, taking place in Dubai from May 2-4, discusses how creating integrated supply chain linkages are critical to the success of the GCC’s chemical industry.