AFCCA Organizes International Conference on “Building Africa’s Future: International Partnerships, Innovation, and Sustainable Infrastructure”
As part of the activities of the 21st General Assembly of the African Federation for Construction Contractors’ Associations (AFCCA), the Federation organized a high-level international conference entitled “Building Africa’s Future: International Partnerships, Innovation, and Sustainable Infrastructure”. The conference brought together a broad spectrum of representatives from governments, regional and international organizations, professional associations, as well as a distinguished group of experts and specialists in the construction and infrastructure sector.
The conference was inaugurated by H.E. Ambassador Hatem Tageldin, Secretary-General of AFCCA. This was followed by welcoming remarks delivered by Eng. Hassan Abdelaziz, President of AFCCA, and Eng. Mohamed Samy Saad, President of the Egyptian Federation for Construction and Building Contractors (EFCBC), who welcomed the conference guests and participating delegations on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the establishment of AFCCA.
H.E. Ambassador Dr. Maha Serageldin, Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt to the Republic of Zimbabwe, then delivered a keynote address in which she affirmed that Egypt attaches particular importance to strengthening cooperation with African countries in the fields of infrastructure and construction, based on its firm belief that infrastructure development constitutes an investment in the future of nations and a fundamental pillar for achieving sustainable development. She further emphasized that the transfer of Egyptian expertise, capacity-building, and the promotion of technical and institutional partnerships are fully aligned with Africa’s Agenda 2063, thereby contributing to the advancement of the construction sector and reinforcing developmental integration among African countries.
The conference also featured remarks by H.E. Ambassador Mohand Salah Ladjouzi, Assistant Secretary-General of the League of Arab States and Director General of the Arab Fund for Technical Assistance to African Countries, who highlighted the Fund’s role in supporting development efforts and capacity-building initiatives across African countries.
Following the opening session, the conference proceedings were moderated by Eng. Moheb Fawzy, Business Development and Operations Director at Conserv. The sessions addressed a number of strategic issues related to the future of Africa’s construction sector, mechanisms for enhancing international cooperation, strengthening institutional partnerships, and promoting the exchange of expertise, all of which contribute to the implementation of sustainable infrastructure projects capable of responding to evolving development challenges.
The first panel session featured Guest of Honour Mr. Mohamad Kabbani, President of the Council for Development and Reconstruction of the Republic of Lebanon, who presented Lebanon’s post-conflict reconstruction experience, outlined the requirements of the reconstruction phase, and discussed the role of national and international partners in supporting development efforts and achieving sustainable recovery.
The second panel session focused on strengthening institutional cooperation at the international level. Mr. Philippe Dessoy, Vice President of the World Construction Association (CICA), emphasized the importance of expanding international cooperation to build a sustainable and globally competitive African construction sector. Meanwhile, Mr. Manish Kothari, Vice President of the International Federation of Consulting Engineers (FIDIC), presented international best practices in governance, transparency, and future contracting models for infrastructure projects.
Participants stressed that advancing infrastructure development across Africa requires effective strategic partnerships among governments, the private sector, financial and development institutions, and professional organizations. They also underscored the importance of embracing innovative and technological solutions and strengthening capacity-building efforts to support the delivery of sustainable infrastructure projects that foster economic integration and accelerate the continent’s development.
The organization of this conference reaffirms the pivotal role played by the African Federation for Construction Contractors’ Associations (AFCCA) in providing a regional platform for dialogue, knowledge exchange, and enhanced cooperation among all stakeholders. It further reflects the Federation’s commitment to supporting Africa’s construction sector, creating an enabling environment for investment, and contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals and Africa’s Agenda 2063.
