Beirut has played host to the fifth instalment of the Future Concrete conference.
Organised by Advanced Construction and Technology Services (ACTS) and the Lebanon Chapter of the American Concrete Institute (ACI), Future Concrete 2014 saw a diverse range of industry professionals gather in the Middle East.
According to its organisers, the event is designed as a platform for learning rather than as a trade show per se.
“The cornerstone of every international Future Concrete conference is the invaluable educational experience for every attendee,” commented Khaled Awad, chairman of ACTS.
“We make it a point that our conference presentations, expert discussions, and even sharing best practices amongst peers, take learning to the next level. In such a dynamic industry like building and construction, it is imperative that players have the tools, strategy, and knowledge to turn challenges into opportunities.
“These have always been readily available in Future Concrete conferences. We are undeniably proud that we are raising the bar on professionalism and expertise within the industry,” he added.
Future Concrete 2014 was attended by a diverse range of speakers including Mayor of Beirut and ACI Fellow, Dr Bilal Hamad, who delivered the conference’s opening speech, ‘Beirut Disaster Risk Resilience’. Attendees discussed a range of industry trends and developments, and debated ways in which related challenges should be addressed.
The event comes amidst encouraging news for the Lebanese construction industry, which achieved moderate growth during the first quarter of 2014 despite continuing unrest in the region. Indicators such as building permits and cement deliveries picked up during this period, driven by sustained demand in the country’s real estate sector.
Construction permits rose by 19% compared to the first quarter of 2013, whilst cement deliveries grew by 7.4%. A total of 1,210,000 tons of cement were delivered between January and March 2014 compared to the 1,127,000 tonnes delivered during the same period of the previous year.
Future Concrete 2014, which took place on Thursday 19 June, was supported by the Safe Building Alliance, Sodamco-Weber, Cimenterie Nationale, ARACO Ready Mix Concrete, and Ciment de Sibline.
