Speakers:
William Chen, Executive Director, Asia Olefins, Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

For the past several decades, China has been the growth engine for global growth. However, in recent times, a series of external and internal developments have resulted in slower growth rates. China has struggled with prolonged economic headwinds, and high levels of local government debt limiting infrastructure investment, amid the property sector entering its fourth year of free-fall. Consumer & investor confidence are also under pressure. However, China occupies an outsized role in demand and production in the chemical industry. Its capacity to produce in most chemistries is second to none, its derived demand pull as a manufacturer to the world and its rising domestic market also make it a player to reckon with. This panel will discuss, China’s role & impact looking ahead. 

Speakers:
Ashish Pujari, Vice President, Asia Aromatics, Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Apart from China, India is the closest emerging market having the scale and size to be a growth engine. However, in the past the promise of India’s potential has often not kept pace with actual performance. Will this time be different? What are the underlying factors that are growth enablers for the Indian economy? What are the underlying risks that can hobble that growth potential? In a year of elections, the Indian election will be the most closely watched one after the US election – in terms of impact geopolitically. How do prospects for the Indian economy look? What will be the impact on chemical growth across the spectrum?

Speakers:
Kaushik Mitra, Executive Director, European Plastics, Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

The Middle East has for several decades established itself as a build-to-export model based on competitive feedstock in the chemicals industry. Saudi Arabia, as the largest and most significant economy in the region, has always been a model. However, the Saudi economy itself is undergoing a massive change through its Vision 2030 program – which essentially aims at transforming and diversifying the Saudi economy away from an excessive dependence on hydrocarbons. Saudi is positioning itself as an investment destination to attract inward investments, with a proposition based on attractive energy & feedstock, a locational advatnage that spans global trade lanes & a new ease of doing business signaling their openness to attract partnerships and investments across the chemical value chain. What is next in the Saudi context, and how will that impact the chemical industry?