With China’s One Belt, One Road initiative increasing momentum, demand for cement is set to rise. ICR speaks with Romain de Laubier and Arne Burfeind of Boston Consulting Group (BCG) to gauge the impact on the global cement industry and its drive to expand its production capacity.

ICR: How would you define China’s One Belt, One Road (OBOR) initiative, which is visibly gaining momentum? What are the drivers for this project?
Romain de Laubier (RdL) and Arne Burfeind (AB): China’s One Belt, One Road project aims to revitalise the trade path between East and West by rebuilding the ancient Silk Road. The “belt” within OBOR refers to a land passage across Asia, whilst the “road” refers to a maritime channel along Asia and the coast of Africa.