News Detail

ACI "International"

9/1/2004

Although we are still in the midst of celebrating our centennial, it is time for us to start looking toward our second century. ACI's Strategic Plan envisions a "worldwide community of equal partners working together to provide knowledge to use concrete to its fullest potential." This vision is not a blue-sky concept, but rather an essential prerequisite for our future success.

As has been the case since our formation, membership and participation in ACI are open to everyone with an interest in concrete. In fact, ACI's reputation around the world is derived as much from our openness and inclusiveness as it is from our knowledge base. Over our next hundred years, ACI will become even more "international." And the rapid development of communication tools is making it easier than ever to harness the wealth of knowledge and experience available from sources outside our borders.

It is difficult to comprehend the level of activity in the worldwide concrete industry without seeing it first hand. So far this year, in conjunction with our International Centennial Conferences, I have had the opportunity to participate in meetings in Mumbai and Pune, India; Kochi, Japan; and Beijing, Shanghai, and Hong Kong, China. At every stop, the warmth of our reception, the intensity of interest in exchanging information, and the energy and enthusiasm of the participants were simply overwhelming. ACI is held in extremely high regard around the world. Only travel schedules limited the length of discussions on industry statistics and practices, concrete technology issues, and ACI operations. It was a true exchange of information and ideas.

Concrete construction activity in many of the areas we visited was astounding. A few miscellaneous facts may help explain how these trips heightened my appreciation and support for our international initiatives. China's population is about 1.3 billion with a land area slightly larger than the U.S., which has a population of about 300 million. China currently produces almost half of the world's cement, around 750 million metric tons, and uses most of that production internally. For comparison, India is second in the world in cement production at about 6%. The U.S. and Japan are third and fourth at 5%. During our visit to Shanghai, we learned that 36 million cubic meters of concrete were consumed by city construction projects in 2003. That represented a 40% increase over 2002. To put this in perspective, the state of California was the largest consumer of ready mixed concrete in the U.S. in 2003 and used about 33 million cubic meters. The state of Texas was second at 30 million cubic meters.

Now the fact that large quantities of concrete are used in countries outside the U.S. is a rather simplistic argument for international collaboration. The more important point is that our hosts expressed a clear desire to exchange and share information to use that concrete to its fullest potential. And ACI has a unique opportunity to serve as the vehicle to facilitate that exchange.

Our International Committee has the mission to "develop and coordinate ways and means to promote communication, cooperation, and collaboration between ACI and organizations, institutions, and individuals of other nations that share common interests with ACI." This committee is currently developing plans to improve ACI's activities and products in support of that mission. This may well include International Partnership Agreements, electronic communications and memberships, code development, chapters, publications, conferences, education, and certification programs, as they are relevant to different countries and languages.

Development of our international programs is one of the most important undertakings of our Institute. Our vision of international is that ACI activities will be completely open and transparent to all members-no matter where they live or what their native tongue. We will know we have fulfilled our vision when we no longer have the need for an International Committee. We have the vision.

Let's keep our efforts moving forward. As always, your feedback is welcome.

Anthony E. Fiorato, President
American Concrete Institute
fiorato@CTLGroup.com

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