Qalaa Holdings wins governance and innovation awards

Qalaa Holdings, the Egyptian holding company that owns ASEC Cement, has received recognition from World Finance magazine and Corporate Live Wire.  The awards were for Qalaa’s governance framework, which was recognised as being the best in Egypt, and for ‘Most Outstanding Investment Firm – Egypt Innovation & Excellence Awards for 2015’. The group is currently preparing its first annual sustainability report as a member of the UN Global Compact (UNGC).

"We have made the principles of sustainability, inclusivity, stewardship and innovation central to our growth as an institution from the time we were incorporated as a two-person partnership a decade ago all the way through to where we stand today: a publicly traded company with operations in infrastructure and industry across North and East Africa," said Qalaa Chairman and Founder Ahmed Heikal.

"Within this, two themes have long been close to our heart as we have sought to leave the communities in which we do business better than we found them: A steadfast belief in the transformative power of education — and the conviction that you can do right by the environment even as you do right by your shareholders," Heikal noted.

"These important recognitions come as we prepare to submit our first Global Compact 'communication on progress'," noted Ghada Hammouda, Qalaa's CMO and Head of Marketing Communications. "Principles of sustainability, good citizenship, good governance and responsible investing have been at the heart of our business model since inception, facts reflected in our business strategy and in our inclusion in the S&P/EGX ESG Index."

Adapted from press release by Katherine Guenioui

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcement.com/africa-middle-east/28102015/qalaa-holdings-wins-governance-and-innovation-awards-859/