The Egyptian Cement Company (ECC) is a subsidiary of Lafarge, world leader of building materials with its corporate headquarter in Paris, France. At a global level, Lafarge is world leader in Cement and Aggreagates, and number three in Concrete and Gypsum  ECC was formed in 1996 and first began cement production in December 1998. It was the first private sector cement company established after the Egyptian government deregulated the industry and began to privatize the state-run cement companies. Today, the Egyptian Cement Company plant is among the largest cement plants worldwide, and the largest in the middle east. Key dates From a family limestone business to the world leader in building materials: discover the key events in Lafarge's history. 1833: Creation of Lafarge in France. 1864: 1st major international contract. The company delivers 110,000 tons of lime for the construction of the Suez Canal. 1887: Lafarge opens its 1st laboratory, the Teil Laboratory, in the south of France. 1956: Lafarge builds its 1st cement works in Canada, at Richmond: Lafarge Cement of North America. 1991: Lafarge creates the 1st building materials research laboratory, the Lafarge Research Center (LCR), in Lyon (France). 1994: Lafarge enters the Chinese market through Chinefarge, a joint venture in the cement sector. 1997: Lafarge acquires the British firm, Redland. The Group becomes no. 1 in the aggregates market and enters the roofing market. 1999: Lafarge takes its first steps in India. 2000: Lafarge is the first industrial group to conclude a global partnership agreement with WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature) in the framework of the "Conservation Partner" program. The Group is committed to the fight against CO2 emissions. 2001: Acquisition of the British cement company, Blue Circle Industries Plc (BCI), propels Lafarge to the rank of no. 1 global cement manufacturer. 2006: Lafarge acquires 100% ownership of Lafarge North America. The Group launches the Excellence 2008 strategic plan. 2007: Lafarge sells its Roofing Business to the French investment fund, PAI partners. The Ambitions 2012 plan sets 3 main objectives for the Group in the area of sustainable development. The acquisition of Orascom Cement, the leader in the Middle East and the Mediterranean Basin, marks a real acceleration in the Group's development strategy and turns Lafarge into the leader building materials in emerging markets.