A number of heads of Arab contractors' unions will participate in the Builders of Egypt forum, scheduled for 1 and 2 March in Cairo. The forum will discuss integration among Arab and Egyptian construction companies in the implementation of national projects in Egypt and Arab countries over the upcoming phase. The forum will also review some of the successful experiences of countries that have made tremendous leaps in the construction sector to benefit from their experiences. According to the organisers of the forum, Chairman of the Federation of Arab Contractors Fahd Al Hammadi will participate in the opening session of the second day of the forum. The session will also see the participation of UAE Contractors Association Chairman Ahmed Saif Belhasa and Vice Chairman of the National Society for Building and Public Works Abdel Haq El-Arayshy. Chairman of the Libyan General Union for Building and Construction Abdel Meguid Kesheir and Head of Sudanese Contractors Association Al Walid Moustafa will also participate in the session. The heads of the various Arab contractors' federations will discuss, with their counterparts in Egypt, ways to establish a database of all the projects anticipated in both the Arab and African markets. They will also discuss creating a database of unused equipment to exchange and lease them among the Arab countries. The officials will further discuss strengthening the capacity of construction companies in Arab countries and the development of their reputation on the international level to counteract the huge foreign entities that control the construction industry in the region. Participants in the forum will also discuss means of integration between Arab construction federations for the reconstruction of a number of countries in which infrastructure has been destroyed over the past period such as Libya, Syria, and Yemen. The Builders of Egypt forum is held this year is called the "Road to Developing National Projects", with a wide governmental presence expected. In addition the forum will see the attendance of more than 1,000 leaders of major construction companies, financial institutions, building material companies, real estate development companies, and the management of Arab and international projects. During the forum, the government will reveal plans for numerous development projects that are being launched during 2016. The forum will also hold discussions on the challenges facing the construction sector such as financing, energy, and availability of building materials, as well as developing a strategy and a clear road-map for organising and directing Egyptian construction companies to invest in these projects, which support the national economy. Brazil is guest of honour of the forum this year, with the participation of Brazil's ambassador to EgyptRuy Amaral, where he will recount Brazil's experience in dealing with informal settlements and how to eliminate them through modern construction methods.
