Muscat: In a significant endorsement that will support exports to European Union (EU) markets, Oman’s largest cement manufacturer, Raysut Cement Company (RCC), has received CE and NF certifications, two stringent global quality norms validating RCC’s adherence to EU standards in cement production.
The Muscat Stock Market (MSM)-listed RCC said the certifications come at a time when it is expanding exports to newer global markets. Currently, 50 per cent of the company’s output is exported to East Africa, India, Maldives, South Africa, and Indian Ocean islands.
“We consider CE and NF certifications as a testimony to our commitment to constantly improve product quality and processes in line with rigorous global safety, quality and environmental regulations,” said Group CEO, Joey Ghose.
The CE (Conformité Européenne) mark, formerly EC mark, is mandatory for selling certain products in the European Economic Area (EEA) since 1985. The NF Mark from AFNOR certification entity is a French compliance norm that ensures product safety, quality, usage ability and performance.
‘The certifications fit into our export strategy for newer geographies as the CE Mark that endorses compliance with EU’s health, safety and green regulations allows us to market our products in Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway,” said Mr. Ghose.
Winning the certifications also coincided with RCC clinching a new export order from the Reunion Islands in the western Indian Ocean, and an annual contract has already been signed with Enterprise Audemard Group of the French island to ship 8,000 MT cement every month. The first shipment has been received by the party. RCC is also looking at setting up a grinding unit in Madagascar to leverage the 7-8 per cent Y-o-Y growth in that country’s market.
RCC has a current output of 6 million metric tonnes of cement, slated to increase to 10 million by 2022, and later to 22 million tonnes. Mr. Ghose said the COVID-19 pandemic has thrown a major challenge to the business, but RCC was facing it successfully with no change in leadership or vision.
Recently, RCC had won certifications from other parts of the world boosting its export scope. These are from BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards), enabling it to stabilize its presence in India, and from SABPS (South African All Brothers Products and Systems) to help RCC leverage the South African market.
Mr. Salim bin Ahmed bin Alawi Al Ibrahim, Acting Deputy Group CEO of RCC said: “The cement now produced at RCC’s Salalah plant has accomplished the strictest environmental criterion of Hexavalent Chromium (Cr6+) content of less than two parts per million. The NF certification also opens up new market
opportunities and we are now introducing a superior quality cement brand to the French colonies in the Indian Ocean Reunion Islands.”
Last year RCC won the `CEO of the Year’ honour for its Group CEO Mr. Joey Ghose, at both the Oman Best Employer Awards and GCC Best Employer Awards from Employer Branding Institute, which reinforced the company’s excellence across leadership, health and safety, technology, training and talent management.
“We regularly train our employees through on-the-job and by sending them overseas to upgrade their skills. These trainings help us strictly implement quality, environmental and safety norms at our production facilities to improve our products in line with global demand,” added Mr. Al Ibrahim.
Contact:
Mr. Mohammed Ahmed Barakat Al-Ibrahim,
Senior Communications Manager
© Press Release 2021
Disclaimer: The contents of this press release was provided from an external third party provider. This website is not responsible for, and does not control, such external content. This content is provided on an “as is” and “as available” basis and has not been edited in any way. Neither this website nor our affiliates guarantee the accuracy of or endorse the views or opinions expressed in this press release.
The press release is provided for informational purposes only. The content does not provide tax, legal or investment advice or opinion regarding the suitability, value or profitability of any particular security, portfolio or investment strategy. Neither this website nor our affiliates shall be liable for any errors or inaccuracies in the content, or for any actions taken by you in reliance thereon. You expressly agree that your use of the information within this article is at your sole risk.
To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, this website, its parent company, its subsidiaries, its affiliates and the respective shareholders, directors, officers, employees, agents, advertisers, content providers and licensors will not be liable (jointly or severally) to you for any direct, indirect, consequential, special, incidental, punitive or exemplary damages, including without limitation, lost profits, lost savings and lost revenues, whether in negligence, tort, contract or any other theory of liability, even if the parties have been advised of the possibility or could have foreseen any such damages.
