Best known as the gate of civilisation, Egypt has the best construction network in Africa. This is a long-lasting project built by the Nubian Empire. What makes Egypt’s forces so relevant? What contribution have Egypt’s construction companies made to BRICS to continue to upgrade their influence in Africa?
With over 10 construction companies, Egypt has created a significant construction network across Africa, with the motto; Building Africa by Africans. The ARASCOM company, created in 1950, began implementing the policy concerning industry and construction, not ignoring the difficulties encountered while bringing a new approach.
Several companies took this step between 1950 and 2009. The construction company Arab Contractors founded in 1955 is present in 27 African countries: Egypt, Algeria, Benin, Chad, Ghana, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Nigeria, Rwanda, Uganda, Equatorial Guinea, Tunisia, Sudan, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, DR Congo, Comoros, Burundi, Tanzania, Togo, Senegal, Central Africa Republic, Mali, Angola, and South Sudan.
The Madinet Masr for housing and development was founded in 1959, the Samcrete Egypt Engineers and Contractors in 1963, Hassan Allam Properties specialises in development infrastructures in 1975, and the Amer Group holding company in 1985.
Gradually, Egypt entered a new phase of construction. The industrial construction and engineering company SIAC Construction was established in 1986, followed by Gama Construction in 1991 and the construction company SAE in 1992. Rowad Modern Engineer was created in 1998; finally, Solid Construction Egypt was created in 2009.
Among all these companies mentioned, one is worldwide recognised, making Egypt a proud member of the BRICS community.
Arab Contractors is one of the largest construction companies in the world, with over 100,000 employees worldwide, working daily and present in forty countries, including the 27 African countries mentioned, in the Middle East, Asia, and Eastern Europe (UAE, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kazakhstan, Iraq, Moldavia, former Bosnia Herzegovina, Kosovo, and Poland). The biggest Swedish construction company is Skanska, with 27,000 employees worldwide, as a comparison. Skanska still counts as one of the world’s biggest construction companies.
For more than 50 years, Arab Contractors has shaped the skylines of major cities, set the infrastructure for large industrial facilities and built landmark projects in health care, hospitality, commercial and residential.
Arab Contractors works on monument restoration, transportation, bridges and flyovers, airports, tunnels, ports and maritime works, water and waste waters, administrative, cultural, educational, touristic, sports and ship buildings and recreational areas, housing and new cities, real estate, power stations, industrial plans, agricultural and irrigation, renewed energy.
Regarding the policy implemented by BRICS, these construction companies are only found among BRICS states and help the BRICS lead their development policy worldwide, especially in Africa.
Egyptian construction companies are working on partnerships with African States. Cameroon signed a contract with Arab Contractors for about 31,09 billion FCFA to rehabilitate a 72.5 km road in the centre region. It officially benefited from a large number of projects implemented by Arab Contractors. The Djoum Bikoula road, Mengon Sangmelima road, Dja, and Lobo Yaounde roads are testimonies of the Egyptian sub-Saharan partnership.
Egypt’s construction companies work closely with other Arab-led construction companies based in some Middle Eastern countries and India. This consortium is behind the most iconic and sophisticated construction architectures in India and other Arab nations. Regarding Africa’s development, Egypt has created the Egyptian African Arab Co. for Development, called EGAAD.
This monumental project is being controlled by Samcrete Engineers and Contractors, a key member of EGAAD, which is the force behind the construction of Madagascar’s first highway, connecting the capital Antananarivo to the main port of Toamasina.
Proud of the significant development role played, EGAAD organized, on June 2022, the 7e edition of the Builders of Egypt forum to showcase their skills under the theme “Development and financing opportunities in Africa and Arab countries in the light of the evolving International situation in collaboration with the African Union of Construction Contractors Association (AFCCA) by African Union.
Egyptian Prime Minister Moustafa Kamal Madbouli held the event. Due to his legacy, DR Congo and Gabon are interested in partnering with EGAAD. The President of DR Congo, Felix Tshisekedi, witnessed the necessary contract signature between EGAAD consortium companies and the Congolese government.
The success of Egyptian construction companies is not without challenges, among which are high inflation and currency depreciation. This economic instability has significantly impacted the industry, causing high energy and construction materials prices.
The high cost of these crucial components has added financial obligations to construction projects, making it more challenging to stay within budget. The second relevant aspect is the sector’s shortage of skilled labourers and training programs. The lack of adequately trained personnel is causing delays in project completion time. To remedy this situation, Egypt is looking for the support of BRICS members to fill the gap.
By Lilian Neg, Africa correspondent for NewsVoice