WCA Chief Urges Peace and Innovation to Tackle Cement Industry Woes

23 May 2025 CW Team

The General Assembly opened with welcome remarks from WCA Secretary General, Rong Yakun, followed by an address from WCA President Wei Rushan, President and Executive Director of China National Building Materials Co (CNBM).

In his speech, President Wei Rushan urged the global cement sector to embrace peace, rationality, innovation, and responsibility amid a turbulent geopolitical and economic landscape.

“In adversity, relentless innovation is the lifeline for our industry. We must evolve—reimagining not just our strategies and structures, but our very mindset,” said Mr Wei Rushan, President of the World Cement Association.

“The cement sector stands at a crossroads, facing geopolitical uncertainty, economic headwinds, and urgent environmental demands. Yet by embracing the spirit of inclusiveness, openness, sharing, and win-win cooperation, we can unite forward-thinking leaders and jointly forge a path toward a stronger, more sustainable future,” he continued.

Citing the impacts of global conflicts, overcapacity, and volatile demand, he emphasised that sustainable growth hinges on technological advancement, social responsibility, and collaborative transformation.

WCA Members were pleased to re-elect three Directors to the Board: Mohammed Ali Al-Garni, Chief Executive Officer of Saudi Cement Co.; Matias Cardarelli, Chief Executive Officer of PPC; and Kevin Lunney, Chief Operations Officer at Mannok Holdings DAC. Each brings extensive industry experience and regional insight to the association, supporting its mission to drive global collaboration and innovation.

Looking into the future, Rong Yakun, the Secretary General emphasised that the WCA will continue to optimise member services, create more value for member enterprises, strengthen collaboration with international organisations, and continuously enhance the global influence of the industry.

The event concluded with a forward-looking presentation by Arnaud Pinatel and Yassine Touahri from On Field Investment Research LLP, titled 2025 Global Cement Scenario: Two Visions of the World.

The World Cement Association (WCA) has concluded its 8th General Assembly, held on May 16th in Hefei, China at the Steigenberger Icons Hotel. The hybrid event brought together representatives from WCA member organisations both in person and virtually to review the association’s achievements over the past year, approve key resolutions, and discuss plans for 2025 and beyond.The General Assembly opened with welcome remarks from WCA Secretary General, Rong Yakun, followed by an address from WCA President Wei Rushan, President and Executive Director of China National Building Materials Co (CNBM).In his speech, President Wei Rushan urged the global cement sector to embrace peace, rationality, innovation, and responsibility amid a turbulent geopolitical and economic landscape.“In adversity, relentless innovation is the lifeline for our industry. We must evolve—reimagining not just our strategies and structures, but our very mindset,” said Mr Wei Rushan, President of the World Cement Association. “The cement sector stands at a crossroads, facing geopolitical uncertainty, economic headwinds, and urgent environmental demands. Yet by embracing the spirit of inclusiveness, openness, sharing, and win-win cooperation, we can unite forward-thinking leaders and jointly forge a path toward a stronger, more sustainable future,” he continued.Citing the impacts of global conflicts, overcapacity, and volatile demand, he emphasised that sustainable growth hinges on technological advancement, social responsibility, and collaborative transformation.WCA Members were pleased to re-elect three Directors to the Board: Mohammed Ali Al-Garni, Chief Executive Officer of Saudi Cement Co.; Matias Cardarelli, Chief Executive Officer of PPC; and Kevin Lunney, Chief Operations Officer at Mannok Holdings DAC. Each brings extensive industry experience and regional insight to the association, supporting its mission to drive global collaboration and innovation.Looking into the future, Rong Yakun, the Secretary General emphasised that the WCA will continue to optimise member services, create more value for member enterprises, strengthen collaboration with international organisations, and continuously enhance the global influence of the industry. The event concluded with a forward-looking presentation by Arnaud Pinatel and Yassine Touahri from On Field Investment Research LLP, titled 2025 Global Cement Scenario: Two Visions of the World.

Infrastructure Urban

09 Jan 2026

Mount Invests Rs 250 Cr, Adds PUF & PEB Plants, 400+ Jobs

TUMKUR, Karnataka, January 8, 2025 - Mount Roofing & Structures Private Limited, one of India's fastest-growing manufacturers in PUF and a leading solutions provider across Pre-Engineered Building (PEB) and Polycarbonate sheets, simultaneously inaugurated its second fully automated continuous Sandwich Panel manufacturing line and a new PEB manufacturing plant at its integrated campus in Tumkur." The milestone expansion, part of a total investment of INR 250 crores, marks a significant advancement in the company's commitment to engineered performance, manu..

Infrastructure Urban

09 Jan 2026

Titan Intech Strengthens UltraLED Push With Global LED Veteran

Titan Intech has announced the induction of global LED industry veteran Su Piow Ko to its Board of Directors, marking a strategic step in strengthening its UltraLED Displays roadmap and building globally competitive LED display solutions from India.The appointment aligns with Titan Intech’s ambition to position India as a hub for advanced, high-quality LED display manufacturing. With an increased focus on UltraLED Displays, the company aims to enhance technical governance, raise manufacturing standards and expand its presence across global markets.Su Piow Ko brings over three decades of inte..

Infrastructure Urban

09 Jan 2026

Dun & Bradstreet Flags New Growth Engines in India 2026 Outlook

Dun & Bradstreet has released its India 2026: D&B’s Perspective report, projecting a stable macroeconomic environment underpinned by fresh opportunities for productivity-led and inclusive growth. The report outlines how India’s next growth phase will be driven by digitised logistics, trusted data ecosystems, clean energy and rising city vitality.According to the outlook, India’s GDP growth is expected to reach around 6.6 per cent by FY2027, supported by resilient consumer demand and sustained public investment. Manufacturing is seen entering a new phase, moving beyond scale towar..