13/06/2010

For the first time ever in the Middle East, Mr. Abdul Rahman Jawahery, GPIC General Manager has been elected as Deputy Chairman of the International Fertilizer Association and IFA Executive Board Member. 

This significant election took place during the 78th annual Meeting of the International Fertilizer Association held in Paris, France from 31st May to 2nd June 2010. 

This election is a demonstration of the high efficiency enjoyed by Bahraini citizens enabling them to qualify for the most senior positions in international organizations and global associations. 

Prior to his election as Deputy Chairman, Mr. Jawahery used to be Chairman of the IFA Technical Committee. 

On this occasion, Mr. Jawahery said he was delighted and pleased with this election which he considered as a recognition by this international organization of the high level and advancement achieved by the Fertilizer industry in the Arab in general and the Gulf region in particular.  This is also an indication of the high trust enjoyed by skilled and qualified Arab figures and their ability to occupy key positions.

Mr. Jawahery expressed his deep gratitude for the unlimited support enjoyed by the industrial sector, especially the oil, gas and petrochemical industries. He also thanked HE Shaikh Isa bin Ali Al Khalifa, Advisor of HH the Prime Minister for Oil and Industrial Affairs and GPIC Board Chairman. He extended his thanks to HE Minister of Oil and Gas Affairs and Chairman of the National oil & Gas Authority and to the Company’s Board of Directors for their support and faith in Bahraini professionals which reflected positively upon the Bahraini industry on the regional and international levels. 

GPIC General Manager thanked all the Arab and Gulf companies for their confidence and support to him hoping that he would be up to shouldering the duties and responsibilities of this position, as a representative of the Arab fertilizer industry.

It should be noted that IFA holds its meetings on an annual basis with the participation of leading petrochemical companies and organizations involved in the manufacture of fertilizers. This year’s event has attracted more than 1600 delegates from all over the world. 

During the conference, several valuable technical papers were submitted reflecting the progress achieved by this industry. In addition, the papers reviewed a number of future projects and the state of supply and demand forecast in the next few years.

Mr. Jawahery attended university bin the United Kingdom where he obtained a B.Sc. degree and then an M.A. in chemical engineering. This was followed by qualification enabling him to become an engineer and practicing environmental researcher. 

He started his career in the UK where he worked in BP Research Centre for two years before moving to work in GPIC in Bahrain in 1983. 

During his career in GPIC,  he occupied a number of senor positions including the Operations Manager, Urea Plant Project Manager and Plant Operations Department Manager. He attended a number of intensive training courses inside Bahrain and overseas before becoming the Company’s General Manager.

Mr. Jawahery has been elected as a Shura Council member for two successive terms of office. He is also a Board member of the National Oil and Gas Authority and a Director on the Board of the Oil and Gas Holding Company. He holds a membership on the Board of Bahrain Petroleum Company and on the Board of Trustees of Bahrain Polytechnic. 

The GPIC General Manager chairs the Board of Injaz Bahrain in addition to being a founder member of the Bahrain Technology Transfer Society.

On the regional level, he currently holds the position of Board member of the Gulf Fertilizer Association and Chairman of the GFA Care Committee. He is a Board member of the Arab Fertilizer Association while he used to be Chairman of the Technical Committee of the International Fertilizer Association before his selection to the new position. 

Moreover, Mr. Jawahery has numerous contributions in the field of safety, health and the environment which qualified him to become an ambassador of the UK Commission for Occupational Health and Safety for the Middle East. He also obtained the fellowship from the British Institute of Chemical Engineers.  He also has the membership of many technical associations and organizations in Bahrain and abroad such as the Bahrain Society of Engineers and the US Association of Chemical Engineers.

GPIC enjoys a high international reputation in the petrochemical industry making it win many local and international awards and praise so that one of its leaders has deservedly become a Middle East representative and Deputy Chairman of IFA. 

In March 2009 GPIC organized the Global Safety Conference of the International Fertilizer Association which was held in the Kingdom of Bahrain. It focused on fertilizers as being one of the most vital industries in the world that is directly linked to human food.

IFA has in its membership more than 525 fertilizer producers from 85 countries. The Paris based IF aims at providing a joint platform for manufacturers to further enhance co-operation among them, to facilitate the exchange of information and expertise and to overcome the obstacles faced by fertilizer manufacturers.