Byo to host inaugural infrastructure conference
TENDAI BHEBE IN BULAWAYO
The Zimbabwe International Trade Fair Company (ZITF) has partnered with the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development to hold a two- day infrastructure and built environment conference in Bulawayo next month.
Dubbed the Infrastructure and Built Environment Event (AfriConfex), the event is meant to help achieve a middle-class economy by 2030 through infrastructure development.
The ZITF chairman, Busisa Moyo, said AfriConfex runs from October 20 to 21 under the theme: “Solid Foundation”.
“The event will be the country’s biggest gathering of buyers and sellers within the entire built environment value chain, creating a single platform for knowledge sharing across the different sectors, sub-sectors and segments within the value chain.
“This event comes at an opportune time given the Zimbabwean government’s infrastructural development plan to achieve a middle-class economy by 2030 and the fast-approaching end of the first 10 year Implementation Plan of Africa’s Agenda 2063 (2013 – 2023),” Moyo said.
He said the inaugural AfriConfex will therefore provide a key platform for the sharing of local and regional experiences, technical knowledge exchange and a discussion of crosscutting challenges, opportunities and learnings with a view of drawing up actionable resolutions to achieve industry and economic growth.
“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,” Moyo said.
He said investment in large-scale infrastructure projects has been and continues to be one of the cornerstones of Zimbabwe’s National Development Strategy, which outlines our roadmap to achieve economic growth and stability.
AfriConfex, Moyo said, will grow into an annual, pan-African calendar event for the industry and will explore various overarching themes including infrastructure development, planning and policy, financing of infrastructure projects, smart transport technologies, cities of the future, new construction and architecture technology and solutions as well as safety planning and solutions.
