The American Concrete Institute (ACI) is steadily extending its global reach, with a particular emphasis on the Asia Pacific (APAC) region. Driven by a commitment to advancing concrete knowledge worldwide and engaging globally, key components of its Strategic Plan, ACI remains active in key international markets and continues to foster engagement outside North America.
One individual playing a central role in these expansion efforts is Zhu Liu, PE, director of the APAC region at ACI. He works to deepen engagement, strengthen collaboration on technical and educational initiatives, and promote the adoption of ACI codes, standards and certification programmes throughout APAC.
Mr Liu views his position as an opportunity to leverage both his engineering experience and personal heritage to amplify ACI’s impact. With over 20 years as a structural engineer, he understands the needs of members and stakeholders across diverse regions. His international background – growing up in China and living in Canada, the US, the UAE and Saudi Arabia – gives him a unique and global perspective as well as deep ties to Asia.
“I believe my position helps people on a global scale, especially in APAC, where I feel personally connected,” said Mr Liu. “I have two high-level goals I am working on, which is to exchange knowledge with developed countries and bring knowledge into developing countries.”
Challenges in APAC
In working across the APAC region, Mr Liu has encountered significant diversity in language, culture and economic standing. Asia is home to both the richest and poorest countries and contains more languages and cultures than any other region. This diversity, combined with robust economic growth over the past decade, makes the region both promising and complex as ACI strengthens its presence.
According to ACI, one specific challenge involves the reference standards used across the region. Most Asian countries rely on non-ASTM testing methods, which can complicate the adoption of ACI codes and certification programmes that often reference ASTM standards. To address this, ACI has begun partnering with ASTM to encourage the adoption of ASTM testing standards across APAC.
“Looking at an analysis of concrete usage in Asia, it is higher than any other region as far as annual compound growth rate or absolute volumes are concerned,” said Mr Liu. “ACI standards and certification programmes could be used by almost all developing countries in Asia if we can gain acceptance for ASTM testing methods in the region.”
APAC local chapters
Another important consideration is raising awareness of the benefits of being allied with ACI. Sometimes, these advantages are not well understood locally, highlighting the need for Mr Liu’s continued outreach. He actively connects with local chapters and members, gathering feedback and setting up one-on-one meetings with governmental bodies through these networks.
Mr Liu emphasised the importance of open dialogue with local governments. By listening first to stakeholders, he can tailor ACI’s offerings – whether documents or programmes – to fit local priorities and needs. He described this as an interactive process that requires multiple conversations to identify the most effective solutions.
In some developed countries, established codes are already in place, and there may be reluctance to make changes, shared ACI. Here, the institute can evaluate its offerings beyond ACI Code-318-25: Building Code for Structural Concrete – Code Requirements and Commentary to find appropriate options. For developing countries, the opportunity is even greater, as their codes may not yet be fully matured. In these cases, local agencies might be open to adopting models based on ACI Code-318-25, customised for local practices and translated into local languages.
The role of education and training
Education and training stand out as major priorities for government agencies across the region, given the focus on maintaining construction quality. This creates an opportunity for ACI’s educational and certification programmes. Conducting research into local practices, training approaches and certification needs is key to ensuring these programmes are effective.
“Education and training may be the most important things ACI can do in East Asia,” said Mr Liu. “Developing countries need whatever they can find to improve the quality of design and construction. Developed countries instead might be more interested in continuing education.”
ACI’s commitment to sustainable construction practices is also a critical aspect of its global strategy. The institute has long been a leader in sustainability, and Mr Liu’s approach starts with engaging chapters that act as ACI’s local champions. These chapters can help guide conversations on sustainability and define ACI’s position within them. In regions without an established chapter, Mr Liu’s plan is to begin with student chapters to build a foundation for growth.
“With their help, we can find our position in the conversation,” he said. “For those regions without chapters, we need to establish one, starting with a student chapter.”
Future vision
Looking ahead, Mr Liu noted that Asia’s rapid growth and large population set the region apart. This dynamic environment creates new opportunities for both ACI and the countries involved. His focus is on supporting developing countries that require the most assistance from ACI, while also working with mature markets like Singapore, which could play a central role in ACI’s future activities in the region.
Mr Liu underscored that ACI’s leadership, technical resources and recognition exceed those of any other organisation in the industry. Beyond providing direct support, ACI can act as a connector, linking local people with governments and less-connected institutes. Its influence extends beyond country borders, helping to facilitate knowledge exchange across disciplines, industries and nations.
