The cement and concrete industry is demonstrating real commitment to the success of the African construction market through its support of the TotallyConcrete Expo.  The pace of expansion and GDP growth rate in Sub-Saharan Africa has doubled in the last 20 years and Africa is now the next frontier for many leading cement producers.  With a construction industry boom on the horizon, over 2000 construction industry professionals from across the continent are headed to the TotallyConcrete Expo being held next week at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg.

A high level press conference will be held on 4 June during the TotallyConcrete Expo to focus on the efficient and systematic infrastructure delivery in Africa.  Industry stakeholders such as Funani Mojono, CEO of Lafarge Mining and Kutoane Kutoane, CEO of the Gauteng Partnership Fund will issue statements on meeting the infrastructure requirements of a 21^st century Africa.

Ministers of Public Works including The Honourable Thembelani Thulas Nxesi from South Africa, The Honourable Erkki Nghimtina from Namibia and The Honourable Nthutuko Dlamini from Swaziland will also be available for comment following their respective contributions to the keynote session where they will address the planned scale of development in Africa.  It is estimated that the African continent requires an annual investment of at least USD $93 billion in infrastructure development over the next 10 years in order to catch up with other developing regions.  

With specialised programmesdesigned for engineers, contractors, architects and designers, the TotallyConcrete Expo will focus on efficient and sustainable infrastructure delivery for Africa.  Abram Masango, General Manager of Eskom’s Kusile Power Station will discuss the construction of one of South Africa’s largest infrastructure projects underway today and Werner Jerling, Managing Director of Stefanutti Stocks Civils will join him to address project delivery from the contractor’s perspective. 

Over 50 African media and partner associations 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.

PPC, Lafarge, Dangote, Sephaku Cement, AfriSam, NPC Cimpor, Hycrete, Motheo Construction 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. 

“Lafarge South Africa is proud to be a sponsor of this comprehensive cement and concrete event,” says Thierry Legrand, Country CEO of Lafarge South Africa. “We are in a unique position to contribute through having a strong presence in all of our construction related business lines of cement, aggregates, readymix and plasterboard. As a company, we have a clear sense of purpose to be a major supplier of products and solutions, which will help to build more liveable and sustainable cities, and rural developments that are desirable environments for all people.”