Equipolymers Announces New President & CEO

Dubai, United Arab Emirates - January 1, 2010 - Ramesh Ramachandran, president and chief executive officer (CEO) Dow Chemical International Private Limited (Dow India), has been named to the simultaneous roles of president and CEO for MEGlobal™ and Equipolymers, replacing Henry Roth, who has assumed the role of president, Dow Middle East. Ramesh will relocate from Mumbai, India to the MEGlobal headquarters in Dubai, United Arab Emirates with immediate effect and will report to the MEGlobal and Equipolymers boards of directors.

A chemical engineer by training, Ramesh earned his Doctorate in surface and colloid chemistry from Columbia University, New York and has several publications and patents to his credit. He has spent his entire career in the chemical industry, initially as an analytical chemist before moving into the commercial side of the business holding product and marketing manager roles for a wide variety of business units.

Ramesh joined Dow in 2001, as business director in the performance chemicals division for the acrolein derivatives, divynyl benzene, ENB and specialty ketones businesses. He moved to Houston in 2003 to take over responsibility as business director for Dow’s hydrocarbons division in the United States. Ramesh relocated to Calgary in Alberta, Canada, in 2004 assuming the role of president of Dow Chemical Canada Inc. and continuing his role as business director of Dow Hydrocarbons. As president, he was also a member of the board of directors of Petromont Inc., a joint venture between Dow Chemical Canada Inc. and the Quebec Investment Group. During his tenure in Canada, Ramesh was presented with the Alberta Centenary Citizen award in 2005 for contributions to the petrochemical industry in Alberta. Ramesh returned to the US in 2006 to Dow’s headquarters in Midland, MI to take the role of senior director of global strategic planning and business analysis. He was appointed to his role in India in October 2007.

Ramesh serves on the board of Waterhealth India Pvt Ltd., a non-government organization (NGO) active in providing drinking water solutions through the use of technology, and is also an advisory committee member for the Habitat for Humanity (IndiaBUILDS) program. In 2008 Ramesh was awarded the Asian Paints Padma Bhushan Dr. RA Mashelkar Medal and Chemcon Distinguished Speaker Award for Leadership at Chemcon, organized by the Indian Institute of Chemical Engineers, recognizing his efforts taken in developing products and solutions addressing energy and sustainability. In 2009, Ramesh received an honorary fellowship from the Maharashtra Academy of Sciences in recognition of his outstanding contribution to management sciences.

Ramesh holds a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) degree in finance from Rutgers University in New Jersey, USA, and a Doctorate (PhD) in chemical engineering and applied science from Columbia University, New York, USA.

About MEGlobal
MEGlobal™ is a world leader in the manufacture and marketing of merchant monoethylene glycol and diethylene glycol, collectively known as ethylene glycol (EG). Headquartered in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, MEGlobal markets approximately 3.5 million metric tons of EG per year which is used as a raw material in the manufacture of polyester fibers, polyethylene terephthalate resins (PET), antifreeze formulations and other industrial products. With approximately 200 employees worldwide, MEGlobal operates production facilities in Fort Saskatchewan and Red Deer in Alberta, Canada. MEGlobal is a 50:50 joint venture between The Dow Chemical Company and Petrochemical Industries Company (PIC) of Kuwait. Further information can be found at www.meglobal.biz.

About Equipolymers
Equipolymers manufactures and markets polyethylene terephthalate resins (PET), whilst producing purifiedterephthalic acid (PTA). PET is a high quality plastic for use in the packaging industry and in particular for the production of beverage, food and other liquid containers. PTA is a key raw material for the production of PET. Equipolymers serves customers globally and is headquartered in Horgen (Zurich), Switzerland. Production facilities include PET and PTA plants in Ottana, Italy, and two PET plants in Schkopau, Germany.

About The Dow Chemical Company
With annual sales of $58 billion and 46,000 employees worldwide, Dow is a diversified chemical company that combines the power of science and technology with the "Human Element" to constantly improve what is essential to human progress. The Company delivers a broad range of products and services to customers in around 160 countries, connecting chemistry and innovation with the principles of sustainability to help provide everything from fresh water, food and pharmaceuticals to paints, packaging and personal care products. References to "Dow" or the "Company" mean The Dow Chemical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise expressly noted. More information about Dow can be found at www.dow.com.

For editorial information:
Nancy Fullerton
Public Affairs
The Dow Chemical Company
+971 4 2923 917
nfullerton@dow.com