Asia has the most diverse chemical industries

Asia has some of the most diverse chemical industries in terms of type and size where some countries possess some of the most significant chemical industries in the world while others have chemical industries in various nascent stages, a top official said.

Ahmet Üzümcü, DirectorGeneral of the Netherlandbased Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), speaking this week at the 10th Regional Meeting of the National Authorities of States Parties of Asia on Chemical Weapons held in Colombo, said that regulation of chemicals has become a serious challenge with this year marking the 15th year of entry into force of the Chemical Weapons Convention.

“OPCW’s hard work produced excellent results. National authorities play a crucial role in implementing the convention and it is important that they understand the aspects of the convention,” he told the meeting.

Rishad Bathiudeen, Minister of Industry and Commerce of Sri Lanka, speaking at the meeting said implementation of this convention within Sri Lanka will be of extreme importance as this is the only Act which makes it an offence to produce, stockpile or use chemical weapons.

“The presence of the large number of states parties from the region today is a reflection of the importance they attach to the successful implementation of the convention in the Asia as well as their desire to discuss issues that impact their chemical industry whilst implementing at a national level the provisions of the chemical weapons convention,” he added.

Some 35 representatives from Asia and the Pacific attended the June 26 meeting.

Seen here Ahmet Üzümcü examines a gift presented to him and Minister Rishad Bathiudeen (right).