Cemex Egypt Partners with VeryNile: Pioneering Positive Social and Environmental Change

Cemex, a global supplier of building materials, is making a real difference to the River Nile and communities in Egypt. Their partnership with VeryNile, backed by the Egyptian Ministry of the Environment, focuses on cleaning up the river and improving local lives.

This partnership started in 2022. Initially, it aimed to support local fishing communities by collecting waste from the Nile. Since then, it has expanded into many areas, creating educational programs and job opportunities for people throughout the country.

By late 2024, Cemex helped collect over 575 tons of waste from the Nile. Their employees actively participated in cleanup activities. Remarkably, they repurposed more than 460 tons of this waste as alternative fuel for the Assiut Cement Plant, which is part of their effort to promote sustainability.

The partnership also enabled VeryNile to grow its operations, including the launch of a new hub in Assiut, which created over 360 jobs. Many of these opportunities were for local fishing communities, improving their livelihoods and enhancing waste collection efforts.

Cemex is also invested in social development. In 2023, they opened a branch of the Cemex Assiut Cement Football Club Academy on Qursaya Island in Cairo. This academy provides young people a chance to engage in sports in a safe environment with quality coaching and facilities.

Due to these achievements, Cemex made it onto Fortune’s 2024 Change the World list, ranking 24th out of 52 companies. This recognition highlights their positive social contributions through local partnerships.

Yago Castro Izaguirre, President of Cemex Egypt and UAE, emphasized the importance of initiatives that positively impact the environment and communities. He stated, “With VeryNile, we are tackling pollution in the Nile and creating programs that help people thrive. Together, we enhance and empower communities across Egypt.”