Africa’s infrastructure deficit decreases productivity by 40%. The continent needs approximately US $ 50 billion in annual investments to close its infrastructure gap.

The inaugural BUILD Africa Forum took place in the Republic of the Congo earlier this month to provide a framework for exchange between the global players who are shaping Africa’s development. 849 participants representing 49 countries and 85 speakers from five continents gathered together to discuss the question, “How can we encourage social and economic development through new infrastructure in Africa?”

The debates led to five key elements for developing infrastructure:

• Public Private Partnerships (PPP) are key to Africa’s development
• increasing the number of bankable projects is mandatory to boost infrastructure in Africa
• regional integration is not a choice, but a necessity for African economies to compete in a globalised world
• African economies need to establish their own development strategy
• human capital is the most critical infrastructure.

“Basic infrastructure is a prerequisite for the development of the African continent. The Congo has endorsed a continental vision: Pointe-Noire harbour, as well as the road-rail bridge project from Brazzaville to Kinshasa have an undeniable regional orientation,” says Jean-Jacques Bouya, Minister at the Presidency for Spatial Planning & the General Delegation for Major Public Works.