Saudi Gazette report

Riyadh — A Saudi entrepreneur from the petrochemical industry, Ghazael Aldossary, won the Merit Prize at Shell LiveWIRE’s ‘Top Ten Innovators’ global competition which highlights and rewards LiveWIRE businesses that demonstrate excellence in innovation.

Through Ghazael’s company, Oriental Promises Trading, she connects large manufacturers to waste materials which can be repurposed for their needs, reducing the volume of industrial waste going to landfills.

Specializing in the recycling of polycarbonate materials, the company’s innovative process converts polycarbonate waste back to its raw material form, closing the loop on a high-demand product.

Ghazael was the first female Saudi Arabian entrepreneur to operate in the recycled industrial waste sector, and was the only winner from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region in the completion.

‘Top Ten Innovators’ is a worldwide competition open to the alumni of Shell Intilaaqah, the MENA version of Shell LiveWIRE, a Royal Dutch Shell Social Investment Program which operates in 15 countries, supporting young entrepreneurs.

Shell Intilaaqah supports business development in countries where Shell operates.

In Saudi Arabia, the Shell Intilaaqah program helps entrepreneurs to start their own business, turning their ideas into sustainable sources of income to create jobs and stimulate local economic growth in the Kingdom.

On winning the Merit Prize for the ‘Top Ten Innovators’ competition, Gazael Aldossary, commented, “As a Saudi woman I am humbled and proud to be chosen as one of the Top Ten Innovators global award winners. I would like to thank Shell for their support to Oriental Promises in the past years, which lead to this achievement.”

The program provides business skills training and workshops; business start-up grants and awards; and links entrepreneurs to opportunities in sectors that contribute to the local economy.

The program also helps to facilitate access to finance, incubation, business acceleration, access to markets, technology and mentoring.

Andrew Crowe, Country Chairman at Shell Saudi Arabia said, “Shell is keen to continue contributing to achieving the Saudi vision 2030. Shell Intilaaqah helps Saudi entrepreneurs set up businesses, create jobs, generate sources of income for communities by helping to find innovative solutions to economic challenges.”

The shortlisted businesses from the competition were judged by an international panel of business leaders.