GPIC hits the mark

The Gulf Petrochemicals Industries Company (GPIC) has come under total Bahraini management after promotions and transfers were announced recently.

This is part of GPIC's policy of enabling Bahrainis to occupy the senior positions in the company.

Shaikh Isa bin Ali Al Khalifa, adviser to the Prime Minister for Industrial and Oil Affairs and GPIC chairman, approved the new promotions which included the appointment of Yousuf Abdulla Al Yacoob as deputy general manager for technical affairs succeeding Eduard Horn, who retired recently. Thus, the full management team of the company now comprises of Bahrainis.

The company's executive management consists of 11 positions led by general manager Abdul Rahman Jawahery. The new appointments also included Ahmed Abdulla Nooruddin, plants operation manager, Fadhel Mallalah Al Ansari, technical services manager and Ahmed Ghuloom Ismail, maintenance manager.

The appointments also included the middle management with the appointment of Nader Abdul Rahim as inspection superintendent, Salwa Abdul Rahim, payable & receivable accountant in the finance department, Bader Al Mansoori, acting planning superintendent, Yousuf Kamal, acting wharf services superintendent and Jamal Al Shawoosh, acting methanol superintendent.

Mr Jawahery said he was pleased with the success of the company's training and development plans that enabled senior Bahraini staff to occupy senior positions in the company, that is now fully managed by Bahrainis. This is further credit to the company which has achieved successes in other areas. He expressed his thanks and appreciation to the chairman and board members for their strong support for the company's Bahrainisation plans and dedication of all the necessary resources for this purpose.

He added the management of the company has adopted a strict and well-considered system of replacement that is based upon the required qualifications and efficiency in management following an ambitious programme for staff training and development.

Mr Jawahery noted that GPIC was considered as one of the leading companies in the Bahrainisation of jobs and training and development of human resources. "What distinguishes our company from others are the human resources and how they are qualified and upgraded. Investment in human resources is considered as one of the most feasible forms of strategic investments to ensure the success of the enterprise and to meet its immediate and future requirements, especially in a rapidly changing world," he said.

He added, "Qualified and experienced human resources have become valuable assets that firms and companies compete to attract not only regionally but also on the global level, hence there is no doubt that this area has become a challenge for many firms.

"We in GPIC look at human resources from a more comprehensive perspective starting with training, qualification and acquiring the necessary experience. Then, the process is completed through development within the entire operation and providing a suitable climate for motivation and incentives to be able to contribute and to be more creative within a one-family spirit.

"This is in addition to the traditional training programmes offered by the GPIC Training Centre that focus upon positive thinking, language programming, enhancement of leadership spirit and ways of talking to staff members at different work sites."

As for the company's Bahrainisation efforts and qualification of national manpower, GPIC has achieved 85 per cent Bahrainisation of all jobs.

Owing to the outstanding training and qualification of national manpower, the company received several awards and certificates of recognition from the Ministry of Labour and the GCC Council of Labour Ministers.

This year, GPIC won the Excellence Shield for the training and qualification of Bahrainis and the Award of HM King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa for Excellence of the First Class.

Mr Jawahery further said "This is a culmination of our efforts and firm belief in the training of Bahraini manpower. The concern of His Majesty the King gives us further incentive to go forward and to seek to realise more achievements for the development of the Bahraini workforce."