Cement manufacturers at the forefront of contributing to India’s progress
Cement Manufacturers’Association (CMA), the apex representative body of large cement manufacturers in India, at its 55th Annual General Meeting today, reiterated the industry’s commitment towards the Government’s vision for the country’s progress and underlined its contribution towards India’s growth story. Ajay Narayan Jha, Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change was the Chief Guest at the event and addressed the inaugural session. Speaking on the occasion, Shri Jha said: “During my various meetings with representatives of the cement industry in the recent past, I could see the seriousness and commitment to meet the environmental standards that have been prescribed. That gave me encouragement to find solutions which will be in the nature of reinforcing the government-industry partnership rather than viewing each other as regulator and the regulated. It is amongst the profitable industries that do not totally depend on government support and has an excellent track record in respect to financial institutions and the banking sector.” He complimented the Indian cement industry for its various initiatives and efforts in making India the second-largest cement producing country and also for keeping pace with global standards in employing best technology for use of alternate energy sources. On the occasion, Jha released a fact book, Cementing the Future: Indian Cement Industry’s Journey to Excellence, which proudly highlights several unknown attributes of the Indian Cement Industry, such as the fact that it is the second-largest cement industry in the world accounting for over 7% of the global installed capacity, the fact that it consumes a quarter of the fly ash produced by the country’s thermal power plants annually, that it is the most energy-efficient globally with the lowest carbon footprint, and that the cost of cement is less than half of common salt. Underlining the critical role played by the cement industry in the growth of the Indian economy, Dr. Shailendra Chouksey, President, CMA said: “India is globally recognized for strong macroeconomic fundamentals and stable growth prospects, and is the engine of growth for the future. The Indian Cement Industry is an able and willing partner with an indispensable part to play in India’s growth story. We look forward to working with the Government and the society on fulfilling the global imperative of building clean and green economies for a sustainable and prosperous future.” N Srinivasan, Past President, CMA, added, “The Cement industry has a lot to be proud of and has been a silent achiever, never boasting about itself or displaying its true strength and achievements. Today our cement industry is as good as any in the world and our technology is outstanding. The industry is one of the largest contributors to the national exchequer, it cares about the environment and concerned about the welfare of the people who work in it. While currently the cement industry is undergoing challenges, the future looks bright over the next five years and outstanding in the next 10 years.” At the 55th AGM, CMA members reiterated their commitment to remain closely aligned with the Government’s initiatives aimed at bringing about a radical change in the way India lives, works and travels. The members welcomed the Government’s several infrastructure initiatives announced over the last few years by the Government — from the development of smart cities to the modernization of 500 cities, quality housing for all by 2022, cement concreting of national highways, dedicated freight corridors, linking of rivers and ports, building new airports, roads and bridges, provision of sanitation facilities, upgrading the irrigation infrastructure, and so on. At the AGM, CMA also announced that Dr Shailendra Chouksey has been reappointed as President for another year and the election of Shri Mahendra Singhi, Group CEO & Wholetime Director, Dalmia Cement (Bharat) Ltd, as Vice President.
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