The
construction market is one of Africa’s major concerns. Road, health, trade, and
tourism infrastructures, in more or less developed countries: what is the
actual situation?
Increased investment
In 2014, Africa saw 325 billion
dollars invested in the construction of 257 infrastructure projects, with a
minimum of 50 million
dollars. These figures represent an increase of 46% compared with the previous year’s 222 billion.
While a reduction in the number of projects was recorded—65 fewer
than in 2013—the investment amount per site has increased
dramatically, bringing the average value per project to 1.27 billion against
689 million the previous year, almost double, allowing local businesses, such
as the Chadian entrepreneur Ibrahim Hissein
Bourma’s Oum Alkheir Holding to participate in the
development of their country.
Success stories
Today, Africa is undergoing a
metamorphosis. You only have to see the ambitious project the capital of Togo
is planning. An administrative and financial hub, located in the Lomé II
district, with a futuristic, modern look, which will invariably give the city a
facelift. While no launch date has been set, projects of this kind are destined
to break ground in Africa, accelerating development. In late December 2015, in N’Djamena,
Chad, the Hilton group inaugurated a new hotel complex: 250 luxury rooms, presidential
and royal suites, conference rooms, restaurants, and more. The result of a
public/private partnership this successful project is testament to the country’s
willingness to address its lack of tourist facilities, for officials and
business clientele, thus opening up to the international economy.
These issues were widely
discussed during the 8th edition of the Forum Africain des Infrastructures,
held in October 2015. At the heart of the discussions are the opportunities and
advantages for public and public partnerships between governments and
investors.
In this regard, Morocco stands
as example, demonstrating the effectiveness of such agreements, particularly in
the transport sector. Morocco has seen 1,700 kilometers of highways and 2,000 kilometers
of rail track across its territory (1,500 are planned for 2020). The
development of road and airport infrastructure is also a priority in Chad. In February,
an agreement was signed between the Chadian government and BDEAC, granting a loan of 25 billion CFA francs for the paving of the Kélo-Pala
road (109 kilometers), located on Cameroon’s major Kélo-Pala-Léré-Frontière axis,
helping with the region’s opening up. Likewise, work on the 260-kilometer Mongo-Am-Timan
road started in December. Specializing in earthworks and maintenance and repair
of roads, the Chadian group Oum Alkheir Holding holds pole position.
