Around 500 delegates from around the world are expected to descend on Dundee next month for the seventh International Congress, Concrete: Construction's Sustainable Option.

The congress will take place from July 8-10 and will feature six conferences focusing on various themes relating to sustainability.

The event will provide the local economy with a boost estimated to be worth more than £540,000.

Providing an international platform for the discussion of the key role concrete engineering plays in addressing and implementing sustainability, the conference will bring together professionals from concrete design and construction.

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Professor Ravindra Dhir, director of the Concrete Technology Unit at Dundee University, said: "Addressing the future this globally used construction material has within contemporary society and the impact of, for example, environmental and societal elements will be a key focus of the event.

"Creating the occasion for significant discussions and networking opportunities across the sector, the congress will be extremely valuable for those involved in the use and beneficial exploitation, of concrete."

Karen Tocher, business tourism manager at Dundee and Angus Convention Bureau, said: "Attracting major conferences and similar business tourism events as this will be key to achieving our aims of attracting a further £5.5m of future delegate expenditure to the area in 2008-09.

"The congress has attracted a large international contingent and will welcome delegates from 60 countries. Showcasing the area to business tourists can be extremely valuable in encouraging them to return with their friends and family as leisure tourists, further increasing the economic impact of tourism to the Dundee and Angus area."

(GK/JM)