Nima Vakili is the Founder and CEO of Safa BioWorks, the MENA region’s first integrated platform chemicals manufacturer converting regional agricultural feedstock — beginning with date palm biomass — into lactic acid, lactates, and a broader portfolio of bio-based derivative chemicals. Under his leadership, the company is building industrial infrastructure to localize bio-based chemical production in the UAE, complementing the region’s established petrochemical and downstream polymer value chains. Prior to Safa BioWorks, Nima founded Chemplax LLC, a biopolymer processing facility in the United States, giving him cross-border experience translating bio-based chemistry into industrial-scale operations. He works at the intersection of feedstock innovation, circular economy strategy, and regional industrial policy.