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CONSTRUCTION WORLD
MAY
2015
RICS is a global professional
body that promotes and enforces
the highest qualifications and
standards in the areas of land, real estate,
construction and infrastructure. As a
public benefit organisation, it operates in
all the world’s major political and financial
centres in delivering international stan-
dards and policy influence.
Engaging role players from across
the continent and internationally, key
speakers and panellists at the 2015 Africa
Summit debated and explored topics such
as the future economic sustainability and
emerging market outlook for Southern
Africa, as well as drivers, trends and oppor-
tunities for investment in Sub-Saharan
Africa’s fastest growing regions.
Over the next five years, Africa’s
economic growth is projected to outpace
all other continents, according to Stanlib
emerging market economist, Kganya
Kgare. “Forecasts also indicate that four
of the world’s 10 fastest-growing national
economieswillbeAfrican,withannualGDP
growth rates in Nigeria, Zambia, Ghana,
Ethiopia, Mozambique, Tanzania and
Democratic Republic of Congo expected
to exceed more than six percent.
Importantly, where is the investment
coming from, what are the risks and the
Louise Brooke-Smith, RICS
President, who opened the
RICS 2015 Africa Summit.
>
DIARY AND APPOINTMENTS
APPOINTMENTS
Sean Tompkins, CEO of
RICS, who was involved
in a panel discussion on
business opportunities in
Africa’s development.
Graham Clare, branch
manager – KwaZulu-Natal.
THE POTENTIAL FOR AFRICA’S
BUILT ENVIRONMENT
In March the global spotlight fell on opportunities and
potential for Africa’s built environment as the Royal
Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) held its 2015 Africa
Summit in Johannesburg.
>
issue on the programme will cover infra-
structure as a core factor in sustaining
growth, with the power sector being a
prime example of infrastructure deficit
– whether measured in terms of gener-
ation capacity, electricity consumption
or security of supply.”
The Summit programme also included
a panel discussion on business opportu-
nities in Africa’s development, as well as
roundtable topics on housing, urbanisa-
tion and city competitiveness, shopping
centres and retail, and rural development
and land reform.
Salani Sithole, managing
director for its South
African operations.
Royal
HaskoningDHV
Doosan
Chris Whitehead,
national sales manager
for DISA Equipment,
trading as Doosan, part
of Invicta Holdings.
Experian SA
Michelle Beetar, managing
director.
Criterion
Equipment
TC Chetty, RICS country
manager for South Africa.
vital ingredients which will underpin ongoing emerging
market momentum,” he asks.
Sub-Saharan Africa is recognised as one of the fastest
growing regions of the world – both in terms of economics and population,
attributable in part to reduced trade barriers, strengthening governance
and improved political stability. A panel discussion at the summit explored
growthmarkets and opportunities in this region and howAfrica can sustain
development, including high value investment, the property market, and
the issues around skills employment and capacity.
Further to this, with more than 90% of future population growth set to
occur in large cities in developing countries, over the past two decades
Africa has experienced the highest rate of urban growth in the developing
world at an annual rate of 3,5% – anticipated to prevail until 2050. Previous
projections have indicated that between 2010 and 2015, some African cities
will account for up to 85% of the continent’s population, which raises a
discussion on the type of cities African countries need in order to develop.
Says TC Chetty, rics country manager for South Africa:“A highly topical
Frans Minnaar,
executive director.
Concrete
Manufacturers
Association