BASF, the global chemical leader, is seeking to grow its business in Abu Dhabi with the recent opening of an office there.

“With our new Abu Dhabi branch office, we extend the long-term cooperation with our joint venture partner, the Kanoo Group, focusing on the oil and gas industry,” said Dr Jens Rudolph, managing director at BASF Middle East Chemicals LLC in Abu Dhabi. “With our current product portfolio specialised on gas treatment, catalysts, adsorbents and petrochemicals, we want to better serve our customers in the region.” 

Florian Krueckl, managing director at BASF FZE and BASF Middle East in Dubai, said the new office reflected the company’s commitment to Abu Dhabi, its “focus market” within the GCC region.

Krueckl added that BASF would leverage its leading position as an integrated global chemical company to create growth opportunities in Abu Dhabi for the company and its customers by sharing industry expertise and chemical know how.

“Our growth strategy is driven by innovative products and solutions that contribute to conserving resources and improving quality of life,” he added.

BASF, whose global sales amounted to more than 70 billion euros ($80 billion) in 2015, said it is encouraging employment and training of the local workforce with the aim of enhancing the population’s skill set over a period of time.

Mishal Kanoo, chairman of The Kanoo Group UAE and Oman, stated: “It is amazing to think what a great partnership we at Kanoo have had with BASF over these past decades. Bringing to the Gulf one of the world’s leading companies and the leader in chemicals has been a point of pride for our family. We look forward to many more decades of great partnership with this great company.”