Against the historic backdrop of the Nile and hosted at the Sheraton Cairo Hotel, the Cementitious Materials International Technical and Trade Congress brought togehter leaders from the cement, construction, research, and finance sectors for two impactful days of dialogue, strategy, and innovation. Held under honorary patronage, the Congress served as a regional and international nexus of thought leadership, aligning business, policy, and academia around the urgent need for low-carbon, high-performance cementitious solutions.
Opening Notes: Business, Innovation & Policy in Sync
The event commenced with a warm welcome from Beatrice Ene, Managing Director and Head of Events at Industry Link, setting the tone for a Congress built on collaboration and technical rigor. The first session offered a compelling dive into policy-aligned innovation. Grant Quasha of Eco Material Technologies addressed the future of coal ash and supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) under evolving regulatory frameworks. This was complemented by Dr. Thomas Schmitz from Thyssenkrupp Polysius, who presented cutting-edge decarbonization technologies shaping the industry’s next chapter.
Day One: Ground-Level Innovation from Egypt and Beyond
Sustainability took center stage in the afternoon with Mahmoud Abo Elenien, CSO at Royal El Minya Cement Co., who emphasized how embedding ESG in core business strategy is no longer optional—it’s a competitive necessity. Amr Nader, CEO of A³&Co., offered a regional economic lens, identifying SCMs as both environmental imperatives and market enablers.
In a highlight of Egypt’s research landscape, Professor Hanaa Y. Ghorab from Helwan University presented novel approaches in low-carbon cement and concrete, underscoring the country’s growing research contributions to global decarbonization efforts.
Day Two: Scaling Vision into Regional Action
The second day launched with a keynote welcome from Lafarge Egypt, represented by Ahmed Assem and Amr Nagy, who showcased the company’s redefined roadmap for sustainable cementitious materials. Dr. Hisham Hafez from the University of Leeds offered a forward-looking blueprint for achieving a net-zero built environment in EMEA by 2050, while Ahmad Mhanna of ACI MENA introduced the upcoming ACI 318-25 Sustainability Appendix, a landmark in harmonizing global construction standards with environmental performance.
Markets, Carbon, and the Road to Financial Resilience
The financial landscape of decarbonization took the spotlight during Session 4, as Atila Soares of FCT Combustion unveiled a granular roadmap to combustion-based emissions reduction. Marta Diez of CFP Energy addressed how carbon border adjustment mechanisms (CBAM) and EU climate policy are reshaping investment in the cement sector. Luyue Tan from LSEG followed with a strategic overview of EU ETS carbon pricing and its implications for producers and investors.
Closing with a Strong Message: Regional Realities, Shared Goals
The Congress concluded with a high-level panel discussion moderated by Mostafa Elrakhawy of A³&Co., focusing on the geopolitical and industrial nuances of sustainable transformation in cement. The dialogue brought together insights from Heidelberg Materials Egypt, Lafarge Egypt, Arabian Cement Company, and EY-Parthenon, offering a panoramic view of the regional challenges—and breakthroughs—that lie ahead.
Amr Reda, CEO of Titan Cement, closed the session with a keynote that challenged the industry to think boldly, act decisively, and collaborate across sectors to ensure resilience in a net-zero future.
The Cementitious Materials Congress: A Platform for Impact
The Cementitious Materials Congress 2025 not only illuminated the latest in technology and regulation, it empowered professionals to return to their organizations with practical strategies, new alliances, and a renewed sense of urgency. With Cairo as its stage, the event reinforced the Middle East and North Africa’s critical role in global decarbonization and circular construction.
As the Congress drew to a close, one message resonated clearly: the future of cement is not only lower-carbon, it is smarter, more collaborative, and regionally grounded in solutions that serve both people and planet.
See the event video review here.
Looking Ahead – Join Us in Bucharest and Beyond!
The conversations don’t end here. Join us this September in Bucharest and be part of the movement toward a more sustainable built environment. Discover what’s next in cement innovation, best practices, and decarbonization at our upcoming flagship events — where leaders meet to shape a greener world.
Mark your calendars!
Explore our exciting event lineup:
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CarbonZero Global Conference and Exhibition 2025 – October, Bucharest, Romania
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Women in CemCo International Congress EMEA 2025 – October, Bucharest, Romania
Contact us at contact@industrylink.eu to request detailed brochures and registration info.
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