News Detail

ACI’s New International Partners Strengthen the Global Concrete Community

3/23/2016

Mr. Andres Lee, Executive Director of Instituto Nicaraguense del Cemento del Concrete, (left) and Bernie Pekor, ACI Director, International Business Development

One of ACI’s objectives is to establish and expand strong and productive relationships with external organizations and individuals. Recently, ACI and four international concrete organizations formalized their relationship:

Instituto Nicaraguense del Cemento del Concrete (INCYC)
Managua, Nicaragua
Instituto del Cemento y del Concreto de Guatemala (ICCG)
Guatemala City, Guatemala
Instituto Costarricense del Cemento y del Concreto (ICCYC)
San Jose, Costa Rica
Instituto Salvadoreño del Cemento y Concreto (ISCYC)
La Libertad, El Salvador 

These new agreements formalize the desire to collaboratively develop and disseminate technical information on concrete and concrete structures. Our International Partners work with ACI to increase access to information.

In Latin America the market for skilled, well-informed concrete professionals is growing fast, and the need for certifications is widely recognized. ACI leads the way with Certification programs aimed at increasing technical skills. Certification is viewed as a powerful tool to improve quality and safety.

“I think this International Partner Agreement between ACI and ICCG will strengthen the relationship between the two organizations,” stated Luis Alvarez Valencia, General Director of Instituto del Cemento y del Concreto de Guatemala, and ACI Guatemala Chapter President. “The agreement will open new collaboration opportunities in the future.”

Some International Partners are focused on certification programs and related training. Based on the certification activities of the Chilean Cement and Concrete Institute, the Instituto Mexicano del Cemento y del Concreto, and Instituto del Cemento y del Concreto de Guatemala, it is clear that the market for skilled, well-informed concrete professionals is only growing.

“ACI's goal of serving as a major force in creating and maintaining a worldwide community of individuals and organizations supplying and accessing knowledge on concrete is met through its international activities,” stated Ron Burg, ACI Executive Vice President. “ACI seeks to cooperate closely with our International Partners, resulting in benefits for everyone in the global concrete community.”

Several International Partners provide access to a variety of concrete-related resources through the International Concrete Abstracts Portal.  As the network of partners expands, ACI can offer ever-increasing access to concrete-related information and expertise. ACI International Partners host conferences throughout the year, which can be posted to the ACI Web site calendar of events so that ACI members have the opportunity to attend.

The International Forum held at every ACI Convention and moderated by an ACI Vice President, provides an opportunity to learn about other international organizations and their activities, upcoming publications and events, and how ACI is working with its International Partners in the common pursuit of advancing concrete knowledge.

ACI is committed to pursuing international initiatives as part of its Strategic Plan to seek opportunities to advance national and global outreach, and positively impact the global community through mutually beneficial alliances.