CEMEX Receives United Nations` Habitat Business Award

● United Nations recognizes Patrimonio Hoy and Centros Productivos de Autoempleo
programs in the category of accessible housing solutions
NEW DELHI--(Business Wire)--
CEMEX, S.A.B. de C.V. (NYSE:CX), announced today that it received the United
Nations` Habitat Business Award in the category of Accessible Housing Solutions
for its programs Patrimonio Hoy and Centros Productivos de Autoempleo.

The award recognizes CEMEX for promoting improvement in the standard of living
for families through do-it-yourself construction pursued under the auspices of
Patrimonio Hoy and Centros Productivos de Autoempleo.

UN-Habitat, a United Nations agency for human settlements, assists poor people
in urban areas, transforming cities into safer, healthier and greener places,
offering better opportunities and allowing people to live with dignity. This
agency works with organizations at all levels, including all spheres of
government, civilian and private sectors, to cooperate in establishing,
managing, planning and financing sustainable urban development.

The jury viewed Patrimonio Hoy and the Centros Productivos de Autoempleo as
outstanding initiatives of innovative business models that propel community
development and demonstrate the feasibility of social and economic rewards in
the housing sector, principally at the base of the pyramid.

CEMEX is the only Latin American company recognized in this competition, and the
winning programs were selected from more than 25 initiatives throughout the
world in the category of Accessible Housing Solutions.

Patrimonio Hoy is a program that offers micro-financing to families with incomes
of 2 to 3 minimum wages -in Mexico- so that they can build, expand or remodel
their homes. CEMEX finances the cost of construction materials, provides
technical assistance and ensures the timely delivery of materials. All of these
practices reduce the time needed for construction by more than 60 per cent and
generate savings of up to 35 per cent for the beneficiaries of the program.

In its more than 10 years of existence, its work has benefited more than 235,000
families with financing, which all together exceeded 110 million dollars, with a
recovery percentage greater than 99 per cent.

Patrimonio Hoy currently has 85 beneficiary-care centers in 44 cities throughout
the country, and its successful business model has enabled it to extend its
presence in other countries. Today, it operates 20 beneficiary-care centers in
Colombia, Costa Rica and Nicaragua.

The Centros Productivos de Autoempleo (CPA) constitute a practice whereby
families with income less than two minimum wages -in Mexico- can produce basic
materials intended for construction or expansion of their homes. CEMEX provides
the necessary machinery and consumables, while the community contributes the
labor.

At the end of the day, participants receive 50 per cent of the production
attained as payment, and the other 50 per cent is given to CEMEX to sell.

Presently, there are 10 centers of this type in various states of the Republic,
where material was produced to build more than 2,600 houses of 10 square meters,
and more than 1,500 jobs were created.

CEMEX is a 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.

CEMEX
Media Relations
Jorge Pérez, (52-81) 8888-4334
or
Media Relations
Gerardo de la Torre, (52-81) 8888-4334

Copyright Business Wire 2009