Cemex launches Crecimientos platform

Mexican cement giant 643 Cemex has launched Crecimientos (Growth), a platform for the innovation, development, and promotion of social and inclusive businesses. The main goal of this initiative is to support more than one million low income people during the next two years.

Crecimientos will create new business models with high social and environmental impact in Latin American and Asian countries where Cemex is present. As part of its creation, Cemex allied with The Grameen Creative Lab, a social enterprise founded by Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Muhammad Yunus. Cemex and The Grameen Creative Lab will form Empowerment, the first social business of Crecimientos, which will be a new model with the priority of promoting family-owned businesses.

During the first year, the Empowerment  family business model will be developed focusing on housing and basic services, designed to stimulate local economies, improve capacities, and strengthen the role of women. During 2015, two pilot projects will be conducted with families from both urban and rural areas.

“CEMEX contributes to the development of the countries where it operates through innovative and sustainable solutions for the construction industry that offer a better quality of life and access to greater opportunities for families,” said Cemex CEO Fernando Gonzalez.

Cemex has introduced several inclusive and social business models such as Patrimonio Hoy, Mejora Tu Calle, Centros Productivos de Autoempleo, ConstruApoyo, Ecotecnias, and Programa Integral de Autoconstrucción Asistida (PiAC). These programs represent work done in coordination with over 400 communities, improving the quality of life for more than six million people.

The announcement of Crecimientos and the alliance with The Grameen Creative Lab took place during the Global Social Business Summit, the most important summit for social business worldwide, held in Mexico City from November 26 to 28.