The ZITF Company has launched its new business event, the Africa Infrastructure and Built Environment Confex (AfriConfex). The event was announced to the market this week by the company’s chairman, Busisa Moyo in a statement.
The event, which is being organised in partnership with the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure Development, is set to be held on 20 and 21 October at the Zimbabwe International Exhibition Centre in Bulawayo under the theme: “Solid foundation. Stronger future: Exploring linkages in the infrastructure value chain.”
“The private sector and the Zimbabwean government’s drive to improve the country’s infrastructure to sustain growth in the manufacturing sector and expand municipal utilities will continue to contribute to the growth in construction spending. Taking this into consideration, it became apparent to us that the industry and market are primed for a stand-alone event outside Mine Entra (where building and construction had previously been showcased).
“The inaugural AfriConfex will, therefore, provide a key platform for the sharing of local and regional experiences, technical knowledge exchange and a discussion of cross-cutting challenges, opportunities and learnings with a view of drawing up actionable resolutions to achieve industry and economic growth,” Moyo said.
Moyo indicated that the event’s theme rallies the industry and its stakeholders to engage in solution-oriented discourse and implement catalytic actions aimed at the success and growth of the sector.
“The two-day event, featuring exciting exhibition displays and a robust industry-driven conferencing programme will provide the platform for distinctive opportunities for business expansion, networking and learning. Additionally, as indigenous contractors gear up to venture into regional and international markets, AfriConfex will provide dynamic, hands-on moments to stay ahead of trends, opportunities, and risks such as technology trends, international labour markets, and new legal backgrounds and regulations,” said Moyo.
According to Moyo, AfriConfex is expected to grow into an annual, pan-African calendar event for the industry and explore various overarching themes including infrastructure development, planning and policy, financing of infrastructural projects, smart transport technologies, cities of the future (smart cities), new construction and architectural technology and solutions as well as safety planning and solutions.
Moyo highlighted that construction industry stakeholders such as the Zimbabwe Construction Industry Association (ZCIA), the Zimbabwe Building Contractors Association (ZBCA) and the Zimbabwe Building Contractors Association (ZBCA) among others have positively responded to the new event.