Int'l cement conference 'INTERCEM' from Nov 12

LAHORE: Pakistan Cement industry's impressive performance in recent years and the high quality of its production has motivated 'INTERCEM' to organize the first three-day international exhibition and conference on cement here from November 12.

More than 250 delegates from 20 countries including Germany, Switzerland, France, UK and China will attend this mega event being organized jointly by INTERCEM and APCMA (All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association).

INTERCEM is a global leader in events devoted to market developments, products, trading, transportation and handling of cement and related products.

In a media briefing here Wednesday, Matt Owen from INTERCEM said, "We are delighted to bring INTERCEM to Pakistan for the first time. Cement is an essential element in both infrastructural and socio-economic development and Pakistani cement industry will play a central role in the realization of economic development activities, and other ambitious infrastructure projects across the country and around globe."

Matt Owen pointed out that through 2017, Pakistan was one of the world's best performing cement markets and among the top cement exporters in the region. Exporting cement and clinker to more than 17 countries, Pakistan occupied a key geographic and geopolitical position in South Asia between Central Asia, Western China and the Indian Ocean, with connections to the GCC and East Africa and around globe, he mentioned.

Responding to reporters’ queries, Matt Owen said that much of the focus at the conference would be on increasing Pakistan’s cement and clinker exports, but delegates would also consider recent developments in the domestic sector and future forecast for both production and demand.

Linking growth in cement industry and CPEC (China Pakistan Economic Corridor), he said, Pakistan's rapidly developing economy was due to its strong demographics, with a young, ambitious and urbanizing population, and also because of the key role that the country would play in the realization of "One Belt One Road Policy" (OBOR) that was driving infrastructure growth and investment as part of the CPEC.

"The country is already seeing the benefits of the policy and has witnessed strong domestic demand which has led to further investment in the sector and increased capacity in both the North and South," he concluded.

On this occasion, APCMA Senior Vice Chairman Farid Fazal said that during the cement conference, delegates from the building materials, construction and allied sectors would have the opportunity to debate with and learn from many of the most influential and experienced cement industry leaders, and to come away with new ideas and contacts for growing and expanding their business in and outside the country.

"It is a proud moment for the industry in Pakistan to be able to open our country to the international cement world, and to be able to promote the building materials sector in our country to the widest possible audience - highlighting the investments the cement sector have made to increase capacity and produce high quality cement in some of the most state-of –the art facilities in Asia," said Fazal.

APCMA Secretary General Shahzad Ahmed, Javed Iqbal from Pioneer Cement, and Taimur Malik from DG Khan Cement were also present.