According to local news reports, cement is back on the government’s umbrella coverage of subsidies again and there would be no more exports until further official notice, said the minister of commerce yesterday. In the meantime, 30 senior managers of cement factories held an emergency meeting to seek ways to dissuade the government from its decision.
Nevertheless, 207,000t of cement valued at $11m has been exported from March 21 to August 22, 2005. This indicates 38% and 41% increase in terms of weight and value respectively compared to the same period last year.
Senior managers think that the government’s ‘decree’ would have negative consequences for the country’s cement industry and it is not based on credible facts that reflect the current production and export situation. It is more of an economic gesture than a well-thought and expert decision, they unanimously believed.
