Holcim Apasco - Holcim Apasco Wins Latin American Center for Social Responsibility (CLARES) Award

Mexico City, May 29, 2008.- Cement company Holcim Apasco, currently under the leadership of Eduardo Kretchsmer, received the Latin American Center for Social Responsibility (CLARES) award for its practices of responsibility in community involvement and the environment.

The award was presented by Margarita Zavala de Calderón in the framework of the International Congress CLARES 2008 Proactiveness, Transparency and Accountability: Changing the Paradigm for Social Responsibility.CLARES recognizes human and professional excellence in the formation of leaders and the development of socially responsible programs.

The award categories are: Companies, Foundations, Government and People.There are only 3 winners in the "Companies" category, and Holcim Apasco was one of these. Items evaluated included community involvement and environment as well as business ethics and quality of life at the company. The award is given to those individuals and institutions whose actions for the benefit of society have had and continue to have the greatest positive and permanent impact.

CLARES promotes awareness, outreach, professionalization, self-critique, economic and social results, involvement, recognition, and the practice of social responsibility in Latin America, of companies, government and civil organizations through comprehensive research on the practice of social responsibility by country, sector and productive segment.It also promotes collaboration and consulting activities with academic institutions, companies, nonprofit organizations, NGOs, social and welfare programs, international sustainability programs and, in general, all public and private entities that can contribute to socially responsible programs in Latin America.

About CLARESThe Latin American Center for Social Responsibility (CLARES) was founded in 2005 and is backed by the prestigious Universidad Anáhuac, a private institution of higher education with a national presence.The CLARES award is given to those individuals, organizations and institutions whose exceptional performance, commitment to social groups with the greatest need, dedication to the most important causes, and whose example set for current and future generations have made them a consistent force for positive change in Latin American civil society.

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Holcim Apasco produces and sells cement, aggregates (sand and gravel), ready-mix concrete and other products and services for construction. The company has a presence throughout Mexico, with 6 cement plants and a current installed capacity of 11.3 million tons per year, 23 cement distribution centers, 4 maritime terminals, over 100 ready-mix concrete plants, 5 aggregate plants, and a Concrete Technology Center.

Holcim Apasco is part of the Holcim Group, a world leader in cement, ready-mix concrete, aggregates (sand and gravel), and other products and services for construction. The Group holds majority and minority interests in more than 70 countries on all five continents.

Contact:Verónica Díez
veronica.diez@holcimapasco.com.mx