France’s Vicat group has decided to join the existing project of construction of a cement plant which was initiated in February 2006 by Mr. Tursunbek Kanatbekovitch Assambaev in Kentau, south of Kazakhstan.

Mr Tursunbek Kanatbekovitch Assambaev is the owner of Yuzhpolimetall group based in Shimkent and operating in mining activities.

Vigier, the Swiss subsidiary of Vicat would hold a majority in the partnership. Following the fulfilment of conditions precedent, the cement plant should be built for a start of production at the end of 2009. The annual production capacity of the plant will be 1.3Mt. This investment will benefit from the potential and the growth of this country with large natural resources. Kazakhstan is presently a net importer of cement.

The cement plant holds important raw materials reserves and will be connected to the railways network for an easy connection to suppliers and customers on the market.