“Our petrochemical industry, at the stage of maturity and vitality, faces a set of opportunities and challenges. The destiny of this industry tomorrow depends on finding scientific solutions to harness these opportunities while overcoming both potential and existing challenges.
We carry the responsibility of advancing an industry upon which the hopes and expectations of millions of elites and over 40 million honorable shareholders rest. This is an industry that, even in the toughest times of sanctions, has acted as the driving force of the economy, the provider of foreign currency, and the engine of the capital market.
For the petrochemical industry—particularly the PGPIC —to progress along the path of development, it must breathe the spirit of transformation, modernization, and innovation into its structures and practices. Today, our target markets and operational arenas are undergoing sweeping and rapid changes. This wave of transformation extends from shifts in consumer preferences to the arrival of well-equipped competitors with advanced technologies and capital. Clearly, in such a dynamic environment, one cannot hope to lead markets or claim a rightful share by clinging to outdated models and traditional platforms.
Whether we accept it or not, the new rules of the game are shaped by emerging technologies, especially artificial intelligence. Our industrial family has entered a new chapter in its life cycle—one in which everything is tied to the managers’ capacity for innovation and the industry’s ability to leverage cutting-edge technologies.
To play an influential role in this new era, the PGPIC is compelled to undertake fundamental changes in its structures, methods, and tools.
Development theorists emphasize that every transformation process within an organization or industry follows three structured stages: first, realistic recognition of existing gaps, weaknesses, and deficiencies; second, precise and calculated selection of methods and models to reform inefficiencies; and third, charting a new roadmap based on attracting new resources and creating new values and opportunities.
In line with the lessons of the modern world, our greatest asset in entering this transformative path will undoubtedly be creative and innovative human capital. Our managerial task lies in creating the environment for the participation of talented technologists and innovators, whose contributions will guarantee the future progress of our industry. Such progress in industrial management is only possible through substantial investment in the strategic field of research and development (R&D).
A glance at the track record of leading global industries in competitive markets shows that they owe much of their success to the power of massive research institutions, data analytics, and innovation. It is through these foundations that they have been able to conquer large markets.
With this approach, the PGPIC has placed innovation and technology at the center of its strategic decision-making in recent months. We believe that achieving the two major objectives of this vast organization in the new era—namely, completing the production chain and the value chain—depends entirely on our ability to harness innovation and technology.
It is encouraging that this perspective and approach have been met with strong support from academic and research communities. Through this collective endorsement, doors have opened to broad collaboration with prestigious scientific, research, and educational centers. It is expected that, as agreements with research institutions and knowledge-based enterprises are operationalized, the seeds of technological transformation will blossom within the body of the petrochemical industry.
Among the strategic decisions taken in this direction are: Allocating 2% of revenues from production companies to research and development; Signing multiple cooperation agreements between knowledge-based firms and the group’s production units during the Petrofan and Petrochem conferences; The holding’s participation in a major initiative led by the Vice Presidency for Science and Technology to establish a technology and AI hub in Kish; Signing cooperation agreements involving the Persian Gulf Petrochemical Industries Holding’s Venture Capital Fund, Sharif University of Technology, and the Innovation and Prosperity Fund of the Presidency.
This broad series of agreements reflects the strong enthusiasm of technology experts and innovators to contribute to the mission of advancing the petrochemical industry. It gives us confidence that we can realize the lofty goal of domestic production and the completion of the value chain.
Today, we are the inheritors of an industry built upon the firm shoulders of countless dedicated managers, industrialists, and workers. Our primary mission is to elevate this industry to a level of prestige worthy of the great name of the Persian Gulf.
It is heartening to note that in this new era, the PGPIC family has already taken significant strides in production and profitability, and through the dedication of its managers and hardworking employees, has opened new horizons for economic growth and development in our homeland.”
Mohammad Shariatmadari
CEO, Persian Gulf Petrochemical Industries Company