The Accidental Philanthropist

The worlds of business and philanthropy are linked closer together than most people think.  After all both business and charities need money in order to function, and they both can provide important and needed services for others.  Business and charity can come together in a variety of ways, but there are some companies that are already unknowingly making their business into a force of humanitarian aid.  Alexander F. Bouri, the founder of Seament, thought he was just starting a cement business, but in reality he transformed an entire industry and helped developing nations by breaking black markets and monopolies.

After selling life insurance in Nigeria, Bouri saw an opportunity in the cement trade.  With a $50,000 loan and his own business acumen he soon became known as the "Cement King".  As Bouri's business grew, he realized the need to quickly ship cement to others parts of the globe.  Over the next years he purchased 12 specialized cement vessels (carriers, floating terminals, etc).  In the 1970's the demand for cement skyrocketed, and many ports became overwhelmed with the amount of cargo and large ships.  Environmental and social factors also showed that there needed to be a dramatic change in order for people to still get their needed building materials.

In 1978 Seament pioneered the floating cement terminal concept, and that concept got the company recognized as an industry leader.  The floating terminal was destined to change the way people pack and ship cement.   The revolutionary Seament set up was able to deliver up to 12,000 metric tons a day from a single terminal.  Their floating set up helped get building materials to developing nations where cement was desperately needed to improve crumbling infrastructure and smash black market prices.  Seament's cement has built buildings in Yemen, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Kuwait, Turkey, Nigeria, and countless other countries.

Bouri began as a businessman, and turned into a philanthropic businessman.  His story goes to show you how many different ways people can positively impact the world.