Prime Minister Ibrahim Mehleb will be patronising The First Builders Forum 2014, to take place on 24 and 25 November. The main focus of the forum will be on "the strategy of reconstruction". It will be organised by the Egyptian Federation for Construction & Building Contractors (EFCBC) and specialised public relations and events management agency, Excellent Communications. Government representatives and over 1,000 regional and global agents of distinct decision makers from sectors including construction, building materials, real estate development and project management will attend the event. New investment opportunities in national projects such as the new Suez Canal, North Coast, One Million housing units and national road projects will be revealed by statesmen during the forum. Different scenarios for enhancing and overhauling services in the country will be discussed, as well as legislation and adjustments necessary for developing the construction sector will be highlighted. Also on the agenda is the discussion of the impact of recent changes in energy prices on the construction sector and the government's decision to add protective duties on imported steel. During the event three main issues will be highlighted: the new road projects to construct 4,700 km-worth of road surface, which is to be constructed in different provinces during the current period; the obstacles contractors are facing in applying for a road; as well as the investments needed for the establishment of such projects. Egyptian construction companies will review some challenges that the construction and building contractors have been facing, showing the effect this had on the sector. The challenges also include: the uncontrollable prices of construction materials and the late payments of the government to contractors. A session will be dedicated to discussing the important role that banks play in helping progress in the construction sector through financing the main development projects in the country. Moreover the strategies of financing the building and construction contractors will be negotiated and a discussion of the most recent measures of determining or measuring funding risks will be held.
