East Africa cement consumption on the rise

Both the transport and power sectors have critical infrastructure needs in the region and ICT infrastructure is another growing sector now considered key to development. Throughout the region cement consumption is on the rise and construction sites are cropping up at a rapid rate. East Africa will be the fastest growing region in Africa in 2016 with regional growth rates reaching 6.7%. In Kenya the population of Nairobi is forecast to expand to 14-million people by 2050 and in Uganda cement consumption is forecast to increase by at least 12% over the next three years.

Totally Construction East Africa

As East African nations implement policies and projects in line with growth and demand, Totally Construction East Africa, featuring Totally Concrete East Africa, has emerged where infrastructure delivery goals are defined and strategic planning is implemented in order to meet more delivery targets while reducing construction costs in the local marketplace by up to 30%. This is East Africa’s first readymix concrete conference featuring Johan van Wyk the GM of Southern Africa ReadyMix Association (SARMA).

Every year the event is spear-headed by an advisory board of industry experts. The 2016 advisory board consists of more than 10 senior executives from a cross-section of organisations active in East Africa’s cement, construction and property industries including Mucai Kunyiha, chairman of the Kenya Property Developers Association, Busi Legodi, CEO of CIMERWA Rwanda, Dr. Ephraim Senbetta from the American Concrete Institute in Ethiopia, and Ronald Ndegwa, CEO of Savannah Cement in Kenya. The board’s role includes advising the organising team on the latest industry trends, challenges and discussion issues.

Housing delivery

One of the most imperative infrastructure demands in Africa today is housing delivery. Totally Construction East Africa, taking place at the Laico Regency Hotel in Nairobi, Kenya from 4-5 October 2016, hosts the second annual Housing for East Africa Forum to unpack critical issues affecting housing delivery in the region. Africa has the fastest urban growth rate worldwide although it is the least urbanised continent. Current trend projections indicate that 60% of Africa’s populations will reside in towns and cities by 2030. This rapid growth has caught up to countries with insufficient capacity to plan. Unplanned urban growth leads to chaotic expansion of cities, slums, deficient and broken infrastructure, unemployment, and environmental pollution.

Totally Construction East Africa, sponsored by Kumkang Kind, Wall-Ties & Forms, Inc., Elematic, and In Doors East Africa is hosted in partnership with the National Construction Authority of Kenya, Kenya Property Developers Association and Kenya Vision 2030, and will host over 500 participants and 30 exhibitors to provide strategic leverage for all construction industry professionals wanting to keep pace with East Africa’s construction and property boom.