AD Ports is continuously working with its partners to accelerate investment and innovation in the region’s plastics downstream industry. Photo: AD Ports
AD Ports is continuously working with its partners to accelerate investment and innovation in the region’s plastics downstream industry. Photo: AD Ports
AD Ports is continuously working with its partners to accelerate investment and innovation in the region’s plastics downstream industry. Photo: AD Ports
AD Ports is continuously working with its partners to accelerate investment and innovation in the region’s plastics downstream industry. Photo: AD Ports

AD Ports Group’s polymer sector grows in line with increased industrial demand


Alvin R Cabral
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AD Ports Group's Industrial Cities and Free Zones Cluster is now the operations base for 95 polymer companies, in line with the rising demand for the industrial material, the operator of industrial cities and free zones in Abu Dhabi said.

The companies occupy an area of 3,454,457 square metres at the cluster, reflecting the accelerated development of a robust national polymer sector.

AD Ports is continuously working with its partners to accelerate investment and innovation in the region’s plastics downstream industry, which, in turn, will contribute to the national economy, the cluster's head, Abdullah Al Hameli, said on Tuesday.

"By addressing the needs of companies operating in the polymer sector, we are contributing to Abu Dhabi’s transformation into a major global hub for polymers conversion, as well as the nation’s industrial diversification efforts," he said.

Polymer is a chemical compound used in a wide range of applications, from those in household goods and clothes and the construction sector, with examples including plastics, resin and rubber.

The global market for the material is expected to reach $616.82 billion by 2028 from $439.28bn in 2021, growing at a compound annual rate of 5 per cent for the period. The growth will be supported by an increase in polymers' application across sectors, including fast-moving consumer goods, food and beverage, pharmaceuticals and agriculture, according to Fortune Business Insights data.

AD Ports' subsidiaries, ZonesCorp and Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi, are the regional base for some of the biggest companies in the plastics and polymer sector.

By addressing the needs of companies operating in the polymer sector, we are contributing to Abu Dhabi’s transformation into a major global hub for polymers conversion, as well as the nation’s industrial diversification efforts
Abdullah Al Hameli,
head of the Industrial Cities and Free Zone Cluster at AD Ports Group

Kizad's Polymers Park was specifically designed for the global plastic and polymers industry and has evolved significantly since its launch in 2019, serving as a catalyst to propel the polymers downstream sector in the UAE, said Mohamed Al Khadar Al Ahmed, chief executive of ZonesCorp.

“Our collaboration with stakeholders from across the value chain reflects our ambitious plans to become a hub for the global polymers sector by 2025 and contribute tremendously to the region’s GDP and job creation," he added.

Total investment at the cluster is estimated at more than Dh140bn, according to Statistics Centre Abu Dhabi.

Last week, AD Ports signed an agreement with China's Shandong Port Group to establish the region's first tyre storage and distribution centre, a move that will also strengthen the capital's push for a diversified economy. The 150,000 square metre facility will be built at Kizad.

It is also exploring partnership opportunities in regional and international markets.

What is blockchain?

Blockchain is a form of distributed ledger technology, a digital system in which data is recorded across multiple places at the same time. Unlike traditional databases, DLTs have no central administrator or centralised data storage. They are transparent because the data is visible and, because they are automatically replicated and impossible to be tampered with, they are secure.

The main difference between blockchain and other forms of DLT is the way data is stored as ‘blocks’ – new transactions are added to the existing ‘chain’ of past transactions, hence the name ‘blockchain’. It is impossible to delete or modify information on the chain due to the replication of blocks across various locations.

Blockchain is mostly associated with cryptocurrency Bitcoin. Due to the inability to tamper with transactions, advocates say this makes the currency more secure and safer than traditional systems. It is maintained by a network of people referred to as ‘miners’, who receive rewards for solving complex mathematical equations that enable transactions to go through.

However, one of the major problems that has come to light has been the presence of illicit material buried in the Bitcoin blockchain, linking it to the dark web.

Other blockchain platforms can offer things like smart contracts, which are automatically implemented when specific conditions from all interested parties are reached, cutting the time involved and the risk of mistakes. Another use could be storing medical records, as patients can be confident their information cannot be changed. The technology can also be used in supply chains, voting and has the potential to used for storing property records.

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BMW M5 specs

Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor

Power: 727hp

Torque: 1,000Nm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh650,000

The Vile

Starring: Bdoor Mohammad, Jasem Alkharraz, Iman Tarik, Sarah Taibah

Director: Majid Al Ansari

Rating: 4/5

Asia Cup Qualifier

Venue: Kuala Lumpur

Result: Winners play at Asia Cup in Dubai and Abu Dhabi in September

Fixtures:

Wed Aug 29: Malaysia v Hong Kong, Nepal v Oman, UAE v Singapore

Thu Aug 30: UAE v Nepal, Hong Kong v Singapore, Malaysia v Oman

Sat Sep 1: UAE v Hong Kong, Oman v Singapore, Malaysia v Nepal

Sun Sep 2: Hong Kong v Oman, Malaysia v UAE, Nepal v Singapore

Tue Sep 4: Malaysia v Singapore, UAE v Oman, Nepal v Hong Kong

Thu Sep 6: Final

 

Asia Cup

Venue: Dubai and Abu Dhabi

Schedule: Sep 15-28

Teams: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, plus the winner of the Qualifier

Who was Alfred Nobel?

The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.

  • In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
  • Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
  • Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
RESULT

Chelsea 2

Willian 13'

Ross Barkley 64'

Liverpool 0

Young women have more “financial grit”, but fall behind on investing

In an October survey of young adults aged 16 to 25, Charles Schwab found young women are more driven to reach financial independence than young men (67 per cent versus. 58 per cent). They are more likely to take on extra work to make ends meet and see more value than men in creating a plan to achieve their financial goals. Yet, despite all these good ‘first’ measures, they are investing and saving less than young men – falling early into the financial gender gap.

While the women surveyed report spending 36 per cent less than men, they have far less savings than men ($1,267 versus $2,000) – a nearly 60 per cent difference.

In addition, twice as many young men as women say they would invest spare cash, and almost twice as many young men as women report having investment accounts (though most young adults do not invest at all). 

“Despite their good intentions, young women start to fall behind their male counterparts in savings and investing early on in life,” said Carrie Schwab-Pomerantz, senior vice president, Charles Schwab. “They start off showing a strong financial planning mindset, but there is still room for further education when it comes to managing their day-to-day finances.”

Ms Schwab-Pomerantz says parents should be conveying the same messages to boys and girls about money, but should tailor those conversations based on the individual and gender.

"Our study shows that while boys are spending more than girls, they also are saving more. Have open and honest conversations with your daughters about the wage and savings gap," she said. "Teach kids about the importance of investing – especially girls, who as we see in this study, aren’t investing as much. Part of being financially prepared is learning to make the most of your money, and that means investing early and consistently."

Sanju

Produced: Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Rajkumar Hirani

Director: Rajkumar Hirani

Cast: Ranbir Kapoor, Vicky Kaushal, Paresh Rawal, Anushka Sharma, Manish’s Koirala, Dia Mirza, Sonam Kapoor, Jim Sarbh, Boman Irani

Rating: 3.5 stars

MATCH INFO

Manchester City 1 (Gundogan 56')

Shakhtar Donetsk 1 (Solomon 69')

Profile of Foodics

Founders: Ahmad AlZaini and Mosab AlOthmani

Based: Riyadh

Sector: Software

Employees: 150

Amount raised: $8m through seed and Series A - Series B raise ongoing

Funders: Raed Advanced Investment Co, Al-Riyadh Al Walid Investment Co, 500 Falcons, SWM Investment, AlShoaibah SPV, Faith Capital, Technology Investments Co, Savour Holding, Future Resources, Derayah Custody Co.

Black Panther
Dir: Ryan Coogler
Starring: Chadwick Boseman, Michael B Jordan, Lupita Nyong'o
Five stars

The National's picks

4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young

'Doctor Strange in the Multiverse Of Madness' 

   

 

Director: Sam Raimi

 

Cast: Benedict Cumberbatch, Elizabeth Olsen, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Benedict Wong, Xochitl Gomez, Michael Stuhlbarg and Rachel McAdams

 

Rating: 3/5

 
Sanchez's club career

2005-2006: Cobreloa

2006-2011 Udinese

2006-2007 Colo-Colo (on loan)

2007-2008 River Plate (on loan)

2011-2014 Barcelona

2014–Present Arsenal

Gully Boy

Director: Zoya Akhtar
Producer: Excel Entertainment & Tiger Baby
Cast: Ranveer Singh, Alia Bhatt, Kalki Koechlin, Siddhant Chaturvedi​​​​​​​
Rating: 4/5 stars

Company%20profile
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs: 2019 Mercedes-Benz C200 Coupe


Price, base: Dh201,153
Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Power: 204hp @ 5,800rpm
Torque: 300Nm @ 1,600rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 6.7L / 100km

Updated: January 05, 2022, 3:30 AM