Inaugural East Africa Infrastructure and Water Expo to prioritize infrastructure advancement, co-locating with Big 5 Construct Ethiopia in 2025
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | 11 July 2024: The gross domestic product of the East Africa region is anticipated to see a growth of 3.4% in 2024 with further increases in 2025 to 4.2%, according to the World Bank. Described as the ‘Rising Economic Jewel of Sub-Saharan Africa’, the region is also expected to contribute 29% to GDP, particularly due to investment into infrastructure which is currently valued at $395 billion (source: ABIQ). With the infrastructure ecosystem rapidly evolving in the region, the launch of East Africa Infrastructure and Water Expo will further complement the rise in urbanization.
Running from 26 - 28 June 2025 at the Millennium Hall in Addis Ababa, the East Africa Infrastructure and Water Expo, co-located with Big 5 Construct Ethiopia, organized by dmg events, will prioritize advancing the region’s transformation goals. The event is designed to encourage conversation, collaboration and innovation in the critical field of infrastructure development.
Commenting on the launch of East Africa Infrastructure and Water Expo, Mehtap Gürsoy, Portfolio Director - Construction, dmg events, said: “We are excited to introduce the event, co-located with Big 5 Construct Ethiopia, as it is dedicated to providing a dynamic platform for industry stakeholders to exchange ideas, showcase innovations and build partnerships that shape the region’s infrastructure development.”
“As an extension of Big 5 Construct Ethiopia, the two events bring the entire infrastructure value chain under one roof, fostering business interactions and encouraging networking opportunities. It provides organisations with the opportunity to enter the market and showcase their innovative solutions and technologies.”
Infrastructure development forms the backbone of economic growth, social advancement and environmental sustainability. It enhances transportation, improves accessibility and fosters connectivity, which is why infrastructure development is a priority in the region.
It is a key component of East Africa’s economic recovery strategy as it stimulates growth and creates employment.
At the new event exhibitors will present products and services across five dedicated sectors: urban connectivity, water & waste management, smart cities (digital infrastructure), communications and planning and construction of power infrastructure.
Big 5 Construct Ethiopia 2024: A resounding success
As the East Africa Infrastructure and Water Expo approaches its inaugural launch in 2025, it builds on the success of Big 5 Construct Ethiopia. The high-profile event was opened by His Excellency Temesgen Tiruneh, Deputy Prime Minister of Ethiopia, alongside Her Excellency Chaltu Sani, Minister of Urban and Infrastructure in Ethiopia, at the Millennium Hall in Addis Ababa.
The event attracted more than 9,600 attendees and 175 exhibitors from 22 countries that included Algeria, Austria, China, Germany, Ethiopia, India, Italy, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, Türkiye UAE and the UK.
It is a key component of East Africa’s economic recovery strategy as it stimulates growth and creates employment.
At the new event exhibitors will present products and services across five dedicated sectors: urban connectivity, water & waste management, smart cities (digital infrastructure), communications and planning and construction of power infrastructure.
“This is the second time we participated in Big 5 Construct Ethiopia, and I can boldly say that this is the largest construction exhibition not only in Ethiopia, but entire East Africa. The great thing about this event is that we get to meet major clients and decision makers from the private and government sector," said Belete A Matebe, Managing Director, Wilo East Africa, highlighting the company’s successful participation at the event.
Hosted at the event, Big 5 Talks under the themes of sustainability, project management, infrastructure, technology, engineering and architecture & design prioritized discussions around the challenges, opportunities and innovations within the sector and the region. A total of 23 CPD-certified sessions were attended by 3,350 industry professionals, each earning points towards their annual training and development in the industry.
Commenting on the success of Big 5 Construct Ethiopia, Gürsoy said: “Big 5 Construct Ethiopia featured an array of companies, transforming it into a central hub for live demonstrations of cutting-edge technology-driven displays that are needed to support the nation’s construction and infrastructure mega projects. These displays showcased features and capabilities that have the potential to revolutionize and bring innovation to processes across the industry.”
Big 5 Construct Ethiopia will return for its third edition from 26-28 June 2025 at the Millennium Hall in Addis Ababa and the East Africa Infrastructure and Water Expo will be launched at the same time. Combined, the two events will reconnect the industry and facilitate more opportunities and advancements.
For more information on the East Africa Infrastructure and Water Expo, co-located with Big 5 Construct Ethiopia, visit https://bit.ly/46dBeTW
For media queries, contact:
Ranju Warrier, Head of Communications – Construction, dmg events
About Big 5 Construct Ethiopia
Big 5 Construct Ethiopia is the premier event for the construction industry bringing together local and international companies to showcase products & services, innovation, expertise and knowledge to the Ethiopian construction industry.
Part of Big 5, the largest construction portfolio of events global portfolio of Big 5 construction events. Big 5 Construct Ethiopia is set to take place in Addis Ababa from 26-28 June 2025. The event is free to attend for industry professionals. For more information, visit: https://www.big5constructethiopia.com/
About dmg events
dmg events is a leading organizer of face-to-face events and publisher of trade magazines and information services. Our aim is to create dynamic marketplaces to connect businesses with the right communities to accelerate their growth in today’s rapidly evolving landscape. With a presence in over 25 countries and organizing more than 80 events each year, dmg events is a global leader in the industry. Attracting over 425,000 attendees and delegates annually, we organize events in the construction, hospitality, interiors & design, energy, coatings, entertainment, and transportation sectors.
To better serve our customers, dmg events has offices in 10 countries, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, South Africa, the UK, Canada, and Singapore. By being on the ground, we can better understand market needs and nurture relationships to create unforgettable experiences for our attendees.
Our flagship events include Big 5 Global, The Hotel Show, INDEX, ADIPEC and Gastech. For more information visit www.dmgevents.com. Founded in 1989, dmg events is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Daily Mail and General Trust plc (DMGT, www.dmgt.co.uk).
