French LAFARGE, the world leader for construction materials, is to group its plaster activities in Asia with those of Australian BORAL (annual turnover by way of Aus$3.8 billion with 15,000 employed) within a joint venture. This new entity will have a turnover of around $130 million from its first year with a production capacity of 200 million square metres of plaster board. It will be the leader on the market in South Korea, as well as Shanghai, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines. LAFARGE will at the same time hold 70% of the company but BORAL will have the possibility of increasing to 50% at a later date. LAFARGE made of turnover of EUR 408 million during the first term of 1999 in the plaster sector.