Plastic is Fantastic Association to debut at GPCA Forum

The Plastic is Fantastic Association (PiFA) will make its Middle East debut at the 20th Annual GPCA Forum, scheduled for 22 to 24 November 2026 at Madinat Jumeirah in Dubai. The international organisation intends to use its participation to strengthen its global presence and establish contacts with raw material suppliers and partners in the plastics industry. Its activities will focus on building partnerships at the beginning of the value chain and promoting fact-based discussion about packaging materials in the Middle East. During the Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association (GPCA) Forum, the PiFA team will be available for meetings and discussions at booth G-20 in the exhibition hall.

Dialogue across the supply chain

"To sustainably change the perception of plastics worldwide, we need to involve all stakeholders across the supply chain," explains Dominic Fiel, Executive Director of PiFA.

According to the association, the Middle East and North Africa region is central to global material production. "And this is where the course for the future of our industry is being set," emphasises Fiel. "This is precisely where objective, fact-based communication should begin."

Developing the MENA network

Dominic Fiel will be supported at the event by Sladjana Davidovic, Regional Campaign Manager MENA. Her role is to strengthen PiFA's strategic positioning in the Arab region. In Dubai, the team will present the internationally active association to a broad professional audience and seek to attract new members.

Unlike its activities at traditional product trade fairs, PiFA's participation will place particular emphasis on professional dialogue, engagement with political stakeholders and cross-industry exchange.

The theme of the 2026 GPCA Forum is "Persistence with Purpose: Built to Endure". PiFA considers it consistent with the association's approach. "We are witnessing remarkable momentum and an openness to objective discussions about plastics in this region," emphasises Fiel. "Here, the material is seen as a technological solution for innovative products, rather than as a subject of ideological debate."

Forum for international exchange

The annual event in the United Arab Emirates is described as an influential meeting of the chemical and petrochemical industry in the Middle East. It brings together around 2,500 international decision-makers, industry leaders and experts.

Commenting on the planned meetings, Fiel says: "This conference offers us the ideal opportunity to make significant progress in promoting fact-based dialogue about materials."