Africa’s construction industry prepares for new market opportunities at TotallyConcrete Expo

Last Updated 13 years ago by Kenya Engineer

A delegation of African government officials and business leaders responsible for driving the continent’s infrastructure development, will be in Johannesburg 3 – 5 June 2013 to attend the TotallyConcrete Expo, yet another sign of the growing commitment from governments across the continent to invest in infrastructure development. 

South Africa has allocated R827 billion for infrastructure projects over the next three years, which will be at the top of the agenda at TotallyConcrete Expo with the opening address delivered by HE Thembelani Thulas Nxesi, Minister of Public Works South Africa.  Minister Nxesi will offer insight into South Africa’s systematic and comprehensive approach to regional infrastructure delivery while HE Erkki Nghimtina, Minister, Ministry of Works and Transport, Namibia, will outline Namibia’s Vision 2030 and sustainable urban development framework. 

A Nigerian cement and concrete producer has recently had to export over 5000 tonnes of bulk cement a week into Ghana due to the climbing demand and to make up for the shortfall the country is currently experiencing. In Zambia cement demand is expected to double over the next 10 years with an average pace of growth that will probably exceed 10% a year until at least 2018. 

With such high demand for concrete and cement, the private and commercial sectors should soon be experiencing the positive effects of Africa’s growing government expenditure, but a crystal clear picture of where the industry is headed is needed to successfully navigate industry growth, identify lucrative projects and win tenders. 

Over 50 African media and partner association have joined together to support this leading cement, concrete and construction industry event and partner organisations include the Concrete Society of Southern Africa, the Engineering Council of South Africa, Eskom, Kenya Master Builders Federation, Master Builders Association of South Africa, Namibia Institute of Architects, Institute of Engineers Tanzania and National Home Builder’s Registration Council of South Africa.

John Sheath, CEO of the Concrete Society of Southern Africa says of the event, “The TotallyConcrete Expo will provide a distinctively African platform in which the concrete and construction industries can converge for skills development, access to cutting edge building and construction technologies and cross-border information sharing.”

 “News of cement and concrete industry growth from around Africa is spurring attendance to the TotallyConcrete Expo”, says Soren Du Preez, Programme Director and organiser. “We expect over 500 delegates from 20 countries to attend the conference and over 2000 visitors to visit the expo.” 

PPC, Lafarge, AfriSam and Reimer are the sponsors of the event and in addition there will be over 80 exhibitors offering construction industry professionals the opportunity to meet the right people to help them perfect project delivery and win more tenders in Africa’s diverse regions of lucrative development. 

The TotallyConcrete Expo is a timely platform endorsed by the industry to help prepare for national, regional and continental socio-economic development and get ready for the new market opportunities it will bring.