The face of the African construction industry is changing. Construction projects on the continent are getting bigger and more complex. According to Deloitte’s African Construction Trends Report 2013, this is because of rapid urbanisation, a rising middle class, strong economic growth and regional integration in many of Africa’s nations. The result is an ever increasing demand in Africa’s construction industry as big infrastructure projects get underway.
Key construction challenges Infrastructure finance Finance is often one of the first obstacles a project has to overcome before becoming a reality. Funding from traditional sources such as development finance institutes has become increasingly competitive and project owners have begun looking at alternative opportunities such as project bonds. Project management The growing complexity of projects makes project management a lot more demanding. It is increasingly difficult to deliver a project on time and on budget. Cross-border collaboration often adds to the complexity. Project priority
Infrastructure investment is largely channelled into power, energy and transport. However different regions have different priorities which can make the investment of funds more complex.
Accessing the African market Many companies are struggling to access the African market. Difficulties range from project information, how to tender and comply with different rules and regulations to skills availability. Solving the problem To address these issues, collaboration between all stakeholders is inevitable. The African Construction Expo and Conference provides a platform that encourages networking and the exchange of knowledge. The three-day event brings together 5000 construction experts from across the continent – architects, contractors, designers, engineering firms, investors, property developers, project owners, quantity surveyors and specifiers – to facilitate an interactive exchange of knowledge and to advance collaboration. The African Construction Expo and Conference takes place at the Sandton Convention Centre from 26 – 28 May 2014. An interactive exhibition showcases the latest products and solutions that help deliver projects on time and on budget while a workshop programme provides educational content and encourages a more sustainable approach to construction.
