Sipchem Marketing Company (an affiliate of the Saudi International Petrochemical Company (Sipchem) took another important step forward to strengthen its global petrochemical marketing and service delivery when it formally opened recently its office in Singapore. The opening ceremony was attended by Sipchem's Chairman Abdulaziz Al-Zamil, Chairman of Sipchem Marketing Company (SMC) Ahmad Al-Ohali, and other company officials. In his opening address Sipchem's Chairman Abdulaziz Al-Zamil said that both Sipchem and SMC were particularly pleased to be able to strengthen their relationship with Singapore through the opening of an office. “Singapore is a well-established and important logistics and trading hub for the petrochemical industry and an ideal gateway for delivering excellent service to customers throughout Asia”, he said. Ahmad Al-Ohali, speaking on behalf of SMC, emphasized that the opening of the Singapore office demonstrates SMC's commitment to delivering world-class services to its customers throughout Asia. “The opening of an office in Singapore signals a clean break from our past practice of servicing customers' needs through off takers and distributors, and emphasizes the importance SMC places on its customers throughout Asia” Al-Ohali said. “The Sipchem Singapore office will initially sell and market all Sipchem's products directly to enhance transparency and customer relations versus past reliance on marketing by specialized marketing companies. This year, Sipchem is marketing globally all of its products from the Butanediol plant and it is also increasing its marketing volumes of Methanol. Our marketing expansion plans have been completed in anticipation of selling new products that will come on steam later during this year” Al-Ohali added. SMC, the marketing arm of the Sipchem group of companies was formed in 2007 with the express purpose of delivering world-class services and petrochemical products internationally. Since its formation SMC has successfully expanded its operations in its key markets in the Middle East, Europe and Asia. In 2011 the SMC Board of Directors recognized that the sustainable delivery of world-class services and products requires that SMC have a direct relationship and establish a tangible presence with its customers. To this end SMC established an office in Switzerland to provide marketing and logistic services to its customers in Europe. The Swiss operation has enabled SMC not only to service the needs of its customers but also provided a solid base for growth throughout Europe. The opening of the Singapore office positions SMC close to its customers throughout Asia, gives SMC access to an outstanding infrastructure and is the ideal platform for SMC to further expand its business throughout the region. — SG
