Government’s massive infrastructure drive opens a bigger role for private sector participation in the economy.

In light of government’s R845 billion infrastructure budget for the next three years, Royal HaskoningDHV CEO Nyami Mandindi believes innovation is key. “We need to be innovative in the way we operate. Our appeal is that our clients encourage initiative and innovation by adopting design processes that embrace and promote better solutions and best practices. If we discourage this strength in business, our local market and economic growth will become increasingly sluggish,” she says.

Mandindi was speaking at a recent function in honour of Royal HaskoningDHV’s clients. Speaking at the same conference, Green Building Council South Africa (GBCSA) CEO Brian Wilkinson said local companies expect green buildings levels to more than triple in the next three years. He said the share of South African firms highly dedicated to green buildings was growing at a faster rate than anywhere else in the world.