WCA Annual General Assembly concludes
Association president calls for peace, rationality, innovation, and responsibility to navigate cement industry challenges
THE World Cement Association (WCA) has concluded its 8th General Assembly, held on 16 May in Hefei, China. The hybrid event brought together representatives from WCA member organizations 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 welcoming remarks from WCA secretary general Rong Yakun, followed by an address from Wei Rushan, president of the WCA and president and executive director of China National Building Materials Co. Ltd (CNBM).
In his speech, Mr Rushan urged the global cement sector to embrace peace, rationality, innovation, and responsibility amid a turbulent geopolitical and economic landscape, saying: ‘In adversity, relentless innovation is the lifeline for our industry. We must evolve – reimagining not just our strategies and structures, but our very mindset.’
He continued: ‘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 co-operation, we can unite forward-thinking leaders and jointly forge a path toward a stronger, more sustainable future.’
Citing the impacts of global conflicts, overcapacity, and volatile demand, Mr Rushan emphasized that sustainable growth hinges on technological advancement, social responsibility, and collaborative transformation.
During the event WCA members re-elected 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. Each brings extensive industry experience and regional insight to the association, supporting its mission to drive global collaboration and innovation.
Looking to the future, secretary general Rong Yakun emphasized that the WCA will continue to optimize member services, create more value for member enterprises, strengthen collaboration with international organizations, 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’.
