Dow Commits to NPE 2006 with Exclusive Underwriting of Technical Conference

Houston, TX - March 30, 2006, The Dow Chemical Company (Dow) has made an agreement to exclusively underwrite the free five-day technical conference at NPE 2006. Dow’s sponsorship emphasizes the real business value of the innovations and best-practices that will be shared at the conference, where Dow also will give three presentations on leading-edge energy management and high-performance elastomer technology. Dow is the only organization ever to underwrite the technical conference in its entirety. By agreeing to underwrite the conference, Dow will support the event by funding meeting room facilities, audio/visual equipment, and other resources necessary for the conference in an effort to make it free for all attendees.

NPE 2006, the largest North America trade event dedicated to the international plastics industry, will take place in Chicago from June 19-23 at McCormick Place. The educational program to be presented concurrently with the show is by far the largest and most diversified such program in NPE history, according to the Society of the Plastics Industry, sponsor of the triennial exposition.

“The forum that the NPE conference provides for international companies - and especially those in the Americas - is critically important for the future health of the entire plastics value chain,” said Howard Ungerleider, Commercial Vice President for Plastics North America, The Dow Chemical Company. “Our sponsorship pinpoints where the industry has real promise of advancement, and how we intend to lead that progress - through global science and technology expertise in products as well as business models. We’re proud to help make the conference free to all attendees.”

“This collaboration is a win for our exposition and the industry,” said Bill Carteaux, President of SPI. “Having a leader like Dow reengage with our tradeshow advances the world-class reputation we’ve earned with NPE. The uniqueness of Dow’s support is illustrative of SPI’s commitment to support the industry in meaningful ways. And this year’s conference will surely be second to none.”

With this year’s sponsorship, Dow is solidifying its customer strategy and reaffirming its commitment to provide products and services to the broader plastics industry.

NPE 2006: The International Plastics Showcase, draws some 2,000 exhibitors and more than 75,000 delegates from the world’s leading plastics companies. The free technical conference is open to all NPE 2006 registrants, and features more than 75 presentations on emerging technologies, best practices and critical business trends. Each day will feature a different theme that will be addressed from multiple perspectives during the sessions. Also available to NPE 2006 attendees are a range of conference sessions and seminars for which a fee is required.

About The Dow Chemical Company
Dow is a diversified chemical company that harnesses the power of science and technology to improve living daily. The Company offers a broad range of innovative products and services to customers in more than 175 countries, helping them to provide everything from fresh water, food and pharmaceuticals to paints, packaging and personal care products. Built on a commitment to its principles of sustainability, Dow has annual sales of $46 billion and employs 42,000 people worldwide. References to “Dow” or the “Company” mean The Dow Chemical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise expressly noted.

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Soledad Echagüe

The Dow Chemical Company

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