It has been a long-held ambition to bring INTERCEM to Pakistan and are delighted that we can convene the conference in Lahore today.
The industry in Pakistan is somewhat unusual in 2018, with a diverse group of conglomerates manufacturing cement and clinker and none of the major multinationals operating production facilities. A young, growing population is driving urbanisation and increased spending on housing and infrastructure, driving cement demand. In turn, this is funding major investment in new production capacity and the upgrading of older factories - meaning Pakistan is now home to some of the most modern facilities in Asia.
This is a dynamic country at the centre of some of the world's most important cement markets - almost 65% of the world's cement manufactured in countries sharing a border with Pakistan. Many key cement import markets are well positioned for access from Pakistani ports, and cement produced here can be found in projects all across Central Asia, the Indian Ocean and South/East Africa. In summary, Pakistan looks set to play an increasingly important role through the coming decades.
We hope that this first conference will be a source of pride to the national industry and a useful, informative few days that will live long in the memory of our delegates.