The online gathering for the African infrastructure and construction community powered by The Big 5 will run from 21 to 23 July offering intelligent B2B matching, 20+ hours of interactive networking, and inspiring speakers from around the globe. 

The recently announced Big 5 Digital Festival Africa is extending its dates, and will now take place from the 21st through to the 23rd of July. The additional third day comes in response to overwhelmingly positive feedback from construction and infrastructure players in Africa and around the globe looking for viable solutions to do business and network in the current challenging landscape.

The new online platform powered by The Big 5, the largest portfolio of construction events in the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia, is expected to bring together thousands of construction professionals paving the way for the industry’s recovery efforts in the post-Covid-19 era.

Muhammed Kazi, Vice President at dmg events, the organisers of The Big 5 Digital Festival Africa, comments: “We are amazed by the huge participation requests we are receiving from construction stakeholders, who are welcoming the launch of the online event as an effective tool to support their businesses during these unprecedented times.

“The Big 5 Digital Festival Africa is designed to address their most pressing needs; this is why we focused on enabling participants to meet, exchange ideas, network, learn, and open up new business opportunities, connecting conveniently and safely from their office or home.”

An intelligent B2B matching system will allow professionals to engage with the right industry players, ensuring they have meaningful interactions throughout the digital event with over 100 exhibiting companies. Also, Star Architects, government representatives, and industry leaders will deliver powerful and inspiring presentations sharing best practices and innovative ideas to navigate through the current economic environment and emerge stronger.

Nigeria’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Honorable Niyi Adebayo, Kenya’s President of Architectural Association, Mugure Njendu, the CEO of Hassan Allam Construction in Egypt, Mohamed Eldahshoury, the Design Director at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), Daniel Ringelstein, and the Director of Zaha Hadid Architects, Christos Passas, are only some of the prominent speakers who will animate The Big 5 Digital Festival’s programme.

Mr. Passas, who will deliver a keynote presentation titled “Restart: Architectural eco-tech strategies”, says: “We have found ourselves in an unprecedented situation and it took some time to understand what is going on and how to best react to it. We need to re-look at the ways in which we can improve how our business works, and this includes balance virtual and physical contact, travel less, reduce carbon footprint, work on local sourcing and resourcing among other things.

“Our profession finds itself in the center of all this, as Architects are the predominant creative practitioners that can conceptualize and visualize what and how the living environment can be reshaped to be more sustainable and ecologically friendly.

“Africa is a region with incredible possibilities to restart, great potential for eco-technological re-alignment,” Mr. Passas added.

Dubai Exports, established by the Government of Dubai to provide exporters with the services required to enter or expand foreign markets, will also participate in the event sharing its knowledge and expertise. Ahmed Al Omari, Director of Export Market Development at Dubai Exports, said: “We are truly excited by the African Continental Free Trade Agreement that will bring together all the 54 countries within a single market. Once completed this will be the largest market in the world in terms of population.

“Africa is a very important market for the UAE and it has grown quite considerably in the recent period. At The Big 5 Digital Festival Africa we will share our knowledge and expertise in the green building sector, smart construction and traditional products to reduce the impact on the environment and create a better world for all of us. Through the event, we hope to extend the existing relations with the African countries.”

The Big 5 Digital Festival Africa is free to attend and runs online on July 21-23 at thebig5digitalfestivalafrica.com. The event, organised by dmg events, is supported by Platinum Sponsors metalco, Canon, Best Choice, Decoral System, Toolkit, Qatar Development Bank (QDB), and Saudi Exports, and Gold Sponsors Marchetti Autogru spa, Everest Boards, Gulf Acrylic Industries, Therra Wood, Wonderfloor, MIAKOM, and Shamal Plastic Industries.