Egyptian builders can access $2.5 trillion in African projects, but need government support and a national export plan to compete, Hassan Abdel Aziz, president of the African Federation for Construction Contractors' Associations (AFCCA), said Sunday. Speaking at the 10th Builders of Egypt Forum, Abdel Aziz said the current wave of regional challenges presents an urgent need for unified action to mitigate the impact of global crises. "Egypt has led efforts to foster cooperation in construction, not just in the Arab world, but also across Africa and the Islamic region," he said. Abdel Aziz highlighted Egypt's growing presence in regional reconstruction and development, pointing to Iraq's stabilisation and openness to Arab contractors, and Libya's urgent need for rebuilding after natural disasters and conflict. "Libya today enjoys political stability, and we are committed to supporting its recovery," he said, noting joint committees, cooperation agreements, and Egyptian participation in Libya's reconstruction initiatives. He urged faster progress in other conflict-affected areas such as Syria, Yemen, Sudan, Lebanon, and Gaza, while stressing that opportunities extend beyond rebuilding. "There are major development plans underway in Saudi Arabia under Vision 2030, and Algeria is making significant strides in housing and urban growth," he said. Abdel Aziz emphasised that Africa offers vast potential, with soaring demand for housing and infrastructure. He cited efforts to secure preferential terms for African contractors in projects funded by the African Development Bank, including requirements for local partnerships, labor, and materials to limit the dominance of foreign firms. Egyptian firms have already won major contracts through targeted outreach. Abdel Aziz detailed recent agreements and official visits that opened doors in Senegal, Zimbabwe, Côte d'Ivoire, Angola, Zambia, and Mauritius, securing projects worth more than 2 billion Egyptian pounds for Egyptian contractors. To fully capitalise on these prospects, Abdel Aziz called for a national strategy to export construction services. He urged action to ease administrative and financial barriers, provide low-interest financing, apply FIDIC contracts to Egyptian firms as is done for foreign competitors, and strengthen trade offices to supply timely project data. He also called for expanding insurance and banking services abroad to support guarantees and financial flows. Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English
