BOSSES from one of the world's major chemicals companies were in the region yesterday to attend a board meeting and to meet local dignitaries.

A delegation from Sabic's headquarters in Saudi Arabia jetted in for a tour the firm's Wilton facilities and the quarterly gathering of its executive committee.

The group led by Mr Mohamed Al-Mady, the vice-chairman and chief executive of the Riyadh-based business had earlier met local business leaders and politicians at a reception held in the Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art (mima).

Mayor Ray Mallon welcomed the visitors on behalf of attendees which included local council representatives, MPs Ian Swales and Alex Cunningham, Teesside University, Tees Valley Unlimited, NECC and mima.

Mr Mallon said: "As one of the area's major employers and key contributors to the local economy, Sabic's presence is vitally important.

"Teesside is synonymous with the chemical industry and, through the ongoing presence of international companies such as Sabic, I very much hope that will continue long into the future."

Mark Williams, the company's UK Site Director said: "Teesside is one of the only places in the UK that truly understands the value of our industry. The people here have developed and lived the industry for generations.

"In my opinion, there isn't a better set of people than those we have here on Teesside."

"We had excellent and highly positive meeting with the civic dignitaries. Mr Al-Mady and I were keen to reaffirm Sabic's commitment to corporate social responsibility, to playing our full part in the local community and our continuing desire to be a good neighbour, whilst continuing to strive to be a preferred employer among Teesside's highly-skilled workforce.

"Mr Al-Mady and his leadership team were extremely encouraged by the traditional and ongoing commitment of the local authorities to the chemical industry."