The inaugural edition of The Big 5 Construct North Africa held in Casablanca, Morocco, was a major success with over 1,000 professional buyers having taken part in the three-day show (April 25 to 27).

The event, a part of the largest and most influential of construction industry events spanning the Middle East, India, South East Asia and Africa, saw buyers and manufactures from around the world networking and sealing partnerships to do business in the North African region, said the organisers dmg events Middle East, Asia and Africa (MEA).

Beyond showcasing latest solutions and innovative products from over 20 countries including Morocco, Italy, Germany and Turkey, The Big 5 Construct North Africa 2017 is also providing free learning opportunities to the local construction professionals.

Across the three days of the show, visitors are offered more than 10 CPD (Continued Professional Development) certified workshops presented by Moroccan and international experts, they sated.

Speaking at the launch, Andy Pert, portfolio event director, said around 177 Moroccan and international exhibitors took part this year, while thousands of local industry professionals visited the event to source the latest and most innovative products for the built environment.

"This is a great start for an annual exhibition that aims at developing long term growth opportunities for the Moroccan construction industry, along with creating new partnerships," he remarked.

Dozens of B2B meetings have already taken place on the first two days of the show thanks to The Big 5 Construct North Africa’s Global Meetings Programme, he added.

Helping construction players meet with the right buyers and manufacturers, this new platform is expected to boost business opportunities in the region.

“We have made many interesting contacts onsite and at the Global Meetings Program,” remarked a German exhibitor, Carlota Schneider, the assistant manager of Business Development at German Construct GmbH.
“Few hours after the opening of the exhibition, we already coordinated a visit to a company near Casablanca.”

Design Innovation and Advanced BIM Technology were some of the compelling topics discussed during the first day of the event, while the theme of Health and Safety in construction has been at centre stage on Day Two.

Bassam Nouh, the managing director and chief consultant at KZA Consult, stressed the importance that education and a proper regulatory framework play in preventing accidents in the construction sites.

According to Bassam, although there might be a substantial upfront cost in securing proper health and safety solutions, “spending money to prevent injuries and reduce risks means saving money in the long run. Health and Safety training and education should be a commitment that all parties are involved in.”

On the last day of the exhibition, the focus of the educational agenda will shift towards the latest trends in sustainable and green building solutions.

Indeed, Leed certification is gaining pace in the North African country. "Over 15 projects are currently going through the Leed certification process or are already certified in Morocco. More and more developers are requesting green certifications for both residential and commercial buildings,” remarked Zakaria Sadik, the president of the Morocco Green Building Council (MGBC).

Zakaria, who was a key speaker at The Big 5 Construct North Africa, said the Moroccan thermal regulation for the construction sector requiring insulation, solar power heaters and led lamps is going in the right direction to improve energy consumption in the country.

"Nonetheless, decision makers should reinforce and expand laws and regulations to further boost the construction industry’s green shift. Addressing the public’s concern about the perceived heavy upfront costs of implementing sustainable solutions is also a priority," he added.-TradeArabia News Service