LONDON - New figures published by the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) reveal a seven-percent growth in membership last year, with more than 32,000 chemical, process and biochemical engineers now part of the global membership society.

The number of members based in India doubled last year to 642. Strong growth was also seen in Malaysia (+45 percent) and New Zealand (+43 percent), where IChemE now has 3406 and 325 members respectively.

Neil Atkinson, Director of Qualifications and International Development, said the global interest in IChemE is driven by changes in the process industries. “Our continued growth reflects strong interest in professional qualification, and this is a trend we’re seeing all over the world. As the process industries globalize and economies develop, the need for ever-stronger chemical engineering talent pipelines emerges,” said Atkinson.

IChemE’s status as a global organization is now well established with members in more than 120 countries.