Orascom Construction Industries (OCI) is among the major cement producers and construction conglomerates in the Middle East and North Africa regions. Its scope of operations extends well into the regional markets, including North Africa, the GCC, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nigeria and Iraq.

The firm is composed of two main groups: the Cement Group and the Construction Group. OCI is adopting a strategy of actively pursuing opportunities in emerging markets through acquisitions and Green-field developments via its Cement Group, which is composed of the following main subsidiaries: Egyptian Cement (57.

3%), Algerian Cement (100%), United Cement Holding (51%; holds a 12 year lease for the operation of the Tasluja plant in Kurdistan, Iraq), Pakistan Cement Holding (100%; finalizing acquisition of 52.5% of Chakwal Cement Co.

, Northern Pakistan), National Bag (75%), and Mehsas National Bag (50%). The company's Cement Group is collectively the largest cement producer in the Middle East with total productive capacity of 14.2 mn tons/annum by the end of 2005, inclusive of 1.

2 mn tons of capacity in Kurdistan. Current Capacity stands at 7.3 mn tons/annum. OCI's Construction Group is a dominant regional contractor with significant presence in Egypt and Algeria, which provides engineering, procurement, and construction services for large-scale infrastructural and industrial projects executed by both private and regional public entities.

The Construction Group that regularly ranks among the top 200 construction contractors in the world has the following major subsidiaries: OCI (Egypt, 100%), Besix (50%), Contrack International (45%) and National Steel Fabrication (50%) among others.

OCI is based in Cairo, Egypt and employs 40,000 people in 14 countries.