Business Opportunities for European international contractors in the context of EU Global Gateway

Brussels, 17 May 2024:   The joint FIEC-EIC Conference held on 17 May 2024 in Brussels attracted more than 150 delegates from both federations for a discussion on how the European construction industry can help building a competitive, resilient Single Market and to examine the business opportunities for European international contractors in the context of the EU Global Gateway initiative.

Speakers from the private sector in Africa and Europe

The Founder & CEO of SDP Consulting in Bénin, Georges Alé, described the latest trends and challenges for infrastructure investments in Africa and highlighted the need for capacity building in the local construction industry, especially in the areas of project management and training of workers. Ines Ferguson, President of the European Federation of Engineering Consultancy Associations (EFCA), presented EFCA's proposals for enhancing the efficiency of Global Gateway transport infrastructure operations, including a stronger collaboration between the EU and the private sector to offer integrated European solutions for mobility, connectivity and transport.

Speakers from EU Commission and EIB

Sergio Oliete Josa, Head of Unit for Sustainable Transport and Urban Development in DG INTPA, accentuated Global Gateway’s importance as a change of paradigm in EU development financing and confirmed the readiness of the European Commission to collaborate with EIC on improving the level playing field for European contractors through a revision of the EU’s procurement rules, including the eligibility criteria. The European Investment Bank’s (EIB) Head of Lending to corporates across Asia, Latin America, and Africa, Caribbean and the Pacific, Richard Amor, emphasised in his intervention that lately almost all EIB operations outside of the EU contributed to Global Gateway, with about one third of the investments mobilised in the transport sector.

Conclusions

EIC President Chauvin confirmed in his conclusions EIC’s continued engagement with the Global Gateway’s Business Advisory Group where it was strongly promoting the option of Strategic Procurement, including variants, Performance-based Contracts to overcome maintenance problems, and Collaborative Delivery Models, including Early Contractor Involvement, to optimise the use of scarce resources.

Links for further information

Presentations from the Workshop are available on the Speakers’ section on the Brussels Workshop Website.