This year’s National Construction Week was a major success, drawing in over 13,000 participants from Kenya and around the world. The international expo featured the Big 5 Construct East Africa, held at the the Kenyatta International Convention Centre, and organized by dmg events. The week also featured the flagship International Construction Research Conference and Exhibition (ICoRCE), organized by the National Construction Authority.
Prof. Paul Maringa, PS State Department of Public Works opened the events. He remarked on the conference: “Research is the cornerstone of development, and this forum is a stepping stone towards propelling our country to the top 50 in the World Ease of Doing Business Index, and attaining the Big Four Agenda.”
Speaking on the legal research conducted throughout the conference, Kennedy Ogeto, Solicitor General added: “It is our collective responsibility to ensure that we develop an efficient legal framework to assure quality in the construction industry.”
“Products on display at the international expo were extremely rich in both variety and quality. The show is really important for the industry – Kenyans usually have to travel far for these kinds of products but now we have them at home. The event really is bringing the world to Nairobi.”
- Hon. William Kabogo, Former Kiambu County Governor and proprietor Iguta Paradise Homes on The Big 5 Construct East Africa
At its second edition, The Big 5 Construct East Africa 2018 welcomed over 220 exhibitors from around world to KICC. Representing 33 countries, exhibitors at the event came prepared to work with local companies in support of the Nation’s building boom.
His Excellency Nikolaos Terens Spencer Quick, Deputy Minister of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Greece, commented on the side-lines of the exhibition: “I am very much impressed with what The Big 5 Construct East Africa is doing here and it very much shows the capabilities of the economy here in Kenya. Today we have agreed to continue our business mission to improve our relations and to establish better corporation with your country and with your businesses.”
With over 13,000 participants, Deputy Head of Mission and Head of Economic Affairs at Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany Nairobi, Michael Derus said: “In the three years that I have been in Nairobi, this event had by far the greatest attendance at an opening I have ever seen. The German exhibitors are very impressed with the interest from visitors, and I am happy to learn that the quality of their products as well as the after sales and maintenance services on offer are some of the main criteria in Kenya.”
Exhibitors were pleased with this year’s show as a whole with some closing deals and key partnerships. Greek exhibitor Thermic LTD drew up a deal with local based company GreenTech Solutions LTD, and look forward to signing an exclusive distribution agreement following the event.
With new laws making it mandatory for homes with more than three bedrooms to install solar water heaters, the market for our product in Kenya is thriving. Because of this we are delighted to be at The Big 5 Construct East Africa and to have the opportunity to work closer with Kenyan companies.”
- Alkis Metzalis, Exports Manager at Thermic LTD