2023 - INTERCEM's Year in Review

“That’s a wrap” – we’ve just arrived back from Hollywood (at INTERCEM Americas), and it's time to say goodbye to 2023.

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And what a year it has been – INTERCEM has travelled across the globe with events in the USA, Turkey, Singapore, UAE and Greece. Our meetings in Dubai and Istanbul were the best-attended events we have ever hosted in their respective countries - and with just shy of 2,000 delegates picking up their badges and participating in our events worldwide – this has been another record-breaking year for us!

?Delegates have had much to discuss through the year as industry efforts to decarbonise ramp up and the future uses of Artificial Intelligence in cement production, trading and shipping have become an increasingly prominent discussion - both on and off the stage. We’ve also hosted market updates covering more than twenty regions and countries – as well as regular market-leading global analysis from our friends at On Field Investment Research - and we’ve talked about cement, clinker, slags, ashes, calcined clay, and natural pozzolans - analysing industry trends, trade routes, freight rates, new technology, government regulations, finance, storage, handling and a lot more besides!

Outside the conference room, we’ve had memorable Gala Dinners and tours throughout the year – from the mind-bending illusionist in Dubai to spectacular views in Istanbul and a Beach Boys Party in LA – and a personal favourite at INTERCEM Shipping Americas in Tampa, a ‘Golden Hour’ networking cruise hosted by Port Tampa Bay - included pulling alongside a cement shipment unloading at the Titan America terminal (I am not sure that the Captain was expecting this to be the photographic highlight of the tour!)

?It was all aboard in Dubai too, as our Global Sponsor- SESCO Trading – transformed the exhibition space at the Jumeirah Emirates Towers by constructing a two-storey meeting room and exhibit in the shape of a cement-carrying bulk vessel.

While in Istanbul, as the conference returned to the spectacular Swiss?tel The Bosphorus, Istanbul , we watched from the lobby and the terrace at the Gala Dinner venue as ships of all shapes and sizes traversed the strait between Europe and Asia.

Much further East on the Asian continent, INTERCEM held our first post-covid meeting in the region as we returned to the international business hub of Singapore for the first time in more than 10 years – completing a full international INTERCEM programme in the Americas, Europe, Middle East and Asia for the first time since 2019.

2023 has been a busy year, and hundreds of people have contributed to putting these conferences together alongside our small INTERCEM team. We are thankful to everyone who has helped make these events happen, from all of our speakers and panellists, sponsors and exhibitors through to the exhibition contractors, AV teams, hotel staff and many others who work behind the scenes to bring you the best possible live event experience - there are too many of you to mention now but you know who you are!

Thanks also to everyone who joined us at the meetings and especially to select group who made it to all six (an incredible effort!).

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2024 is just around the corner - we will be kicking off in Rome with the INTERCEM Shipping Forum on the 22nd of January. Closely followed by our biggest annual event, INTERCEM Dubai, 27th - 29th February. I hope you will be able to join us there.

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In the meantime, enjoy the holidays (if you are lucky enough to have time off) and the New Year celebrations - and I'll look forward to seeing you next year!

?? All photos - INTERCEM Conferences