Dr. Ilham Kadri, CEO of Syensqo, became the European Chemical Industry Council (Cefic) President, succeeding Dr. Martin Brudermüller. The CEO shares her calls to EU leaders for the future of industry in Europe.

Ilham Kadri said: “I am honored to take on this role, in what is a pivotal moment for Europe and Europeans, industry at large and the European chemical industry itself. I therefore very much look forward to supporting the next generation of European Politicians and the new European Commission Leadership.” 

With Martin Brudermüller, Ilham Kadri played a key role in the European Industrial Summit hosting European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Belgian Prime Minister Alexander de Croo and former Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta. Meanwhile, the Antwerp Declaration for a European Industry Deal is supported by 1100 business leaders, spanning 25 sectors in the economy. The coming months, Brussels will see a series of Antwerp Dialogues, further exploring the key requests in the Antwerp Declaration. 

Ilham Kadri said: “Our industry has long committed to Europe’s climate neutrality and circularity goals, there has been no question about what we are trying to achieve. With the Antwerp Declaration, we have laid out how we need to achieve it. In the coming months, my ambition is to see Europe putting industry competitiveness at the heart of Europe’s decision making. I want to see Europe become the global hub for innovation, and also a place where innovations can be scaled up, where businesses have the confidence in Europe and its industrial policy to invest on European soil, and where there is a solid market demand for sustainable products.”