HYDERABAD

The role of cement industry in the country’s development was highlighted at the inaugural session of the 22nd edition of Green Cementech, the flagship annual conference and expo of the cement industry organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in association with CII-Green Business Centre and Cement Manufacturers’ Association here on Thursday.

Speaking at the inaugural session co-chairman of Green Cementech 2026 Raj Narayanan, business head and chief manufacturing officer of Ultratech Cement Ltd, said the cement industry was not only contributing to the country’s economic growth but also laying the foundation for Viksit Bharat through resilient and sustainable infrastructure. He stated that the theme of Green Cementech 2026 was ‘Road towards Net Zero Carbon’.

The conference witnessed participation from over 400 industry representatives, policymakers, senior industry leaders, technology providers, academic and research organisations and sustainability experts from India and across the globe.

National chairman of the CII Indian Green Building Council C. Shekar Reddy highlighted the importance of sustainable materials in green infrastructure, stating that “the cement industry plays a crucial role in enabling green buildings and infrastructure and the adoption of low‑carbon materials will be key to achieving our national climate goals”.

He stated that through IGBC’s 32 regional chapters across the country, they were continuously creating awareness among architects, builders, engineers, urban planners, consultants and students on the importance of sustainable practices and low-carbon construction methodologies.

Chairman of the CII National Committee on Waste to Worth Technologies and Managing Director-cum-Chief Executive Officer of Re-Sustainability Limited Masood Mallick stressed on the circularity approaches for cement industry, stating that the industry must increasingly adopt AI-driven solutions and focus on material intelligence, waste utilisation and performance-based standards that encourage innovation while delivering measurable impact.

Secretary general of the Cement Manufacturers’ Association (CMA) Aparna Dutt Sharma said the industry’s collective responsibility in driving decarbonisation and sustainable growth would play a defining role in shaping the future of decarbonisation.