Fazal, Saudi firm discuss investment in training

Tertiary Education Minister Fazal Karim has called on the Saudi Basics Industries Corporation (Sabic) to support the opening of a technology and vocational centre in T&T. The centre, Karim feels, will be two-fold, as it will serve the needs of Sabic’s industry and his ministry. At a February 8 meeting, Karim met with Sabic, one of the largest companies in the Middle East to discuss the potential for investment.

Sabic is a free standing commercial organisation that manufactures chemicals, plastics, fertilisers and metals. Sabic also has technology and innovation centres which focus on catalysis, process technology and engineering plastics, showing their dedication to further expand its market.

Karim assured Sabic that once the relationship has been established, his ministry will offer opportunities to bring workers from Saudi Arabia, Latin America or the US and provide them with the necessary facilities so that the benefit of their presenc would be to enrich the learning experiences.

Vice president of the Americas in Sabic, John Dearbon explained that in 2000 the company decided to reach out for technology and became innovative by securing markets throughout the world. This propelled Sabic to buy several companies, including Dutch State Mines, Scientific Designs and Huntsman in the UK.

Basking in the company’s success, Dearbon said by 2007 they made an enormous acquistion of GE Plastics and between 2008 and 2009, signed a joint venture agreement with Sinopec in Tianjin, China. With hopes of meeting the increasing demand for their products and to help each of their companies reach their growth aspirations Sabic turned to T&T, which was one of the first global collaborations. Dearborn said their company recognised the need to have skilled local people in T&T, stating that they need to get people working with technologies required to operate plants relating to their future investments.