Cementing the Industry

Three concurrent events - CEMENT EXPO 2015, 3rd INDIAN CEMENT REVIEW CONFERENCE and the maiden INDIAN CEMENT REVIEW AWARDS - brought the cement industry together on a common platform; saluted resilience and excellence; and re-confirmed ASAPP Media´s reputation as a group that recognises and rewards the achievements of the infrastructure, construction and building material industries in India. Here´s a bouquet of events that, literally, ´cemented´ ASAPP Media´s reputation as a trailblazer! On January 17-18, the Indian cement industry´s only business exhibition, CEMENT EXPO 2015, was held at Mumbai´s Nehru Centre, and inaugurated by Subhash Desai, Minister of Industries, Government of Maharashtra. Held concurrently were the 3rd INDIAN CEMENT REVIEW CONFERENCE 2015 and the maiden INDIAN CEMENT REVIEW AWARDS 2015. The conference explored futuristic trends in the Indian cement Industry. Desai, also Chief Guest at the conference, assured the gathering that his government is intent on removing major hurdles for the industry in Maharashtra. ¨We have decided to roll out the red carpet and remove the red tape,¨ he stated. Meanwhile, addressing the conference, NA Vishwanathan, Secretary-General, Cement Manufacturers´ Association, said, ¨The theme of today´s conference is relevant and timely going by the bold policy initiatives and raft of measures taken by the new Central Government to revive the flagging economy that has been growing at under 5 per cent.¨ In his address, Roshan Wadhera, Founder Editor, INDIAN CEMENT REVIEW and Chief Advisor, Cement Expo 2015, expressed his gratitude for holding the Cement Expo again after five years. And Pratap Padode, Editor-in-Chief, INDIAN CEMENT REVIEW, observed in his welcome address that the worst was over and heralded a new beginning for the cement industry. The industry also witnessed its maiden awards, the 1st INDIAN CEMENT REVIEW AWARDS 2015, held on January 18. Awards were given to the Fastest Growing Cement Companies in big and small categories along with the award for the Largest Cement Company. Manoj Misra, Chairman and Managing Director, Cement Corporation of India, was the Chief Guest, while Dr SV Pattiwar, Additional Commissioner, Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation, also graced the occasion. The winners:  UltraTech Cement: Largest Cement Company Large Category Dalmia Cement (Bharat): Fastest Growing Cement Company JK Lakshmi Cement: Second Fastest Growing Cement Company UltraTech Cement: Third Fastest Growing Cement Company Small Category OCL India: Fastest Growing Cement Company KCP Cement: Second Fastest Growing Cement Company Orient Cement: Third Fastest Growing Cement Company Methodology The selection process was based on an integrated model that considers a compounded five-year average growth, both in operational revenue and profit after tax. Data was sourced from published annual reports and results published by companies. The results of the extensive financial model was put before the jury; the data was comprehensively scrutinised, a decision made, and the winners announced. For his part, Naveen Sharma, Vice President-Projects, JK Lakshmi Cement, appreciated the methodology adopted for the selection process. On receiving the award, he said,¨I am happy to know that the procedure you have adopted is based on the information from the market and the financial results of the company in the past five years. This is so transparent that even we were not aware that we have been selected for this award.¨ Just the kind of feedback that impels us to intensify our efforts!