Solvay Pharmaceuticals ceo is new Cefic president

The chief executive officer of Solvay Pharmaceutical s has been elected president of the European Chemical Industry Council (Cefic) at its general assembly in Athens.

In his speech, Christian Jourquin said the European chemical industry would need to respond to unprecedented challenges and opportunities created by climate change and scarce raw materials.

‘In order to do this, the chemical industry must reinforce, and be seen to reinforce, its credentials as a responsible and sustainable actor at the heart of the fight against climate change,’ he said.

‘To achieve such an ambitious goal, we must first demonstrate the continued relevance of a chemical industry in Europe in an increasingly competitive global market. If we are to demonstrate the benefits of the chemical industry and its role as an innovative solution provider to the challenges of climate change, then we can no longer neglect to highlight the vast and incredibly diverse range of products and solutions which would not exist without the chemical industry,’ he said.

Jourquin also stressed the successes that his predecessor François Cornélis has delivered and his willingness to build on them. In this context, he will strengthen the useful dialogues started with all relevant stakeholders, notably on REACH.

The chemical industry is an important contributor to Europe’s socio-economic development. It comprises 27,000 companies, employing directly 1.2 million people and generating a trade surplus of €35.4bn in 2007.

He is elected for a two-year term.