September 20, 2007

CEMEX S.A.B. de C.V. announces that on September 20th it will receive a Tell Award from the Swiss Foreign Investment Agency, as the most significant expansion project in 2006 by North American firms. Accepting the award for CEMEX is Luis Treviño, Head of the CEMEX Global Center for Technology and Innovation (GCTI). Ambassador Urs Ziswiler is presenting the awards in Washington DC at a special ceremony on September 20, 2007.

The award is named after the Swiss legendary hero William Tell. The first Tell Award was presented in 2004 recognizing important investment projects in Switzerland made by U.S., Canadian and Mexican firms. For 2006 the award for the most significant expansion goes to Mexico-based building materials company CEMEX for increasing the size of its CEMEX Global Center for Technology and Innovation (GCTI) in Biel/Bienne in the Canton of Berne. The number of employees at the Center has grown from 34 and to 66, and additional R&D programs have been added such as a program on new ready-mix materials.

Asked why CEMEX chose Berne, Switzerland for its global center, Luis Treviño, commented, "In 2001, CEMEX was looking for a strategic location that was close to its European Research Academy and main European operations. We found Biel/Bienne to be a perfect location." He added, "At the GCTI, our 66 employees represent 14 different nationalities; the Canton of Berne was ideal for responding to our needs for diversity and multicultural integration."

The main activities at CEMEX's GCTI are: Product and Process Development, IT, Energy, CO₂, and Sustainability. Treviño, explains, "The purpose of the GCTI is to develop innovative solutions and business practices that should translate into competitive advantages for CEMEX in the building materials industry." The Central R&D area involves construction materials and building solutions. The Center also manages the development of new technology and practices to improve efficiency in CEMEX operations, the development of new business practices and processes; the development of renewable energy projects; and the development of CO₂ emission reduction projects such as CDM (Clean Development Mechanism). Finally, the Center is responsible for the evolution of the CEMEX Sustainability approach and facilitates its implementation across the company, which has a presence in more than 50 countries worldwide, and the building materials industry value chain.

Denis Grisel, President of the Berne Economic Development Agency, said, "CEMEX, one of the preeminent cement manufacturers in the world, has a very sophisticated R&D platform and an intricate value chain. The Canton of Berne is extremely proud to have a company the caliber of CEMEX located here and to be able to support its growth over the last six years."

Other recipients of the Tell Award include Kyphon Inc., Electronic Arts, and Microsoft.

CEMEX is a growing global building materials company that provides high quality products and reliable service to customers and communities in more than 50 countries throughout the world. CEMEX has a rich history of improving the well-being of those it serves through its efforts to pursue innovative industry solutions and efficiency advancements and to promote a sustainable future. For more information, visit www.cemex.com.

###

Contact Information