First, allow me to thank you most sincerely for accepting our call for this press briefing this morning. We don’t take this for granted and we greatly value this partnership that fosters better service delivery to the people of Malawi. This morning, we have invited you for a very brief statement on the forthcoming 7th International Construction Conference scheduled for the 7th to 9th of August 2024 at Nkopola Lodge in Mangochi.

Colleagues, as you are aware, the National Construction Industry Council (NCIC), established by an Act of Parliament in 1996 (Cap 53:05 of the Laws of Malawi) for the regulation, promotion and development of the construction industry in Malawi. Our vision is for Malawi to attain a “Transformed, sustainable and Quality driven construction Industry’’. This is why the Council is steadily pursuing a mission to “Create an enabling environment for a vibrant and innovative construction industry for the delivery of quality infrastructure and economic empowerment".

As such, the Council is planning to host the 7th International Construction Conference and Exhibition from 7th to 9th August 2024 at Nkopola Lodge in Mangochi. The conference will provide a platform for stakeholders to develop solutions, through discussions of case studies and research results, to challenges facing the construction industry in order for it to contribute meaningfully to the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Malawi Agenda 2063.
I am therefore very pleased to announce that the Head of State, His Excellency the President, Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera has accepted to be part of this international dialogue on infrastructure development. Alongside the First Citizen, who by the way is the CoST Malawi Champion (CoST - The Infrastructure Transparency Initiative); we anticipate participation from a diverse array of industry leaders, academics, researchers, policymakers, and professionals, to foster a dynamic exchange of ideas and collaborations.

The main objectives of the International Construction Conference are as follows:

• To share and take stock of current best practices for construction excellence
• To adopt resilient and inclusive strategies in infrastructure development.
• To explore innovative ways of enhancing local production and uptake of construction materials.
• To enhance skills development and capacity building in the industry
• To consider issues of quality and standardization for the industry.
• To consider ways of harnessing the formal and the informal sectors in the Construction Industry.
• To foster dissemination of practical research results
• To provide a platform for showcasing locally manufactured construction materials in Malawi and within the region.

The theme of the internation construction conference is: “Innovate, Adapt and Excel: A Quality Driven Construction Industry” The conference will feature keynote presentations, panel discussions, technical sessions, and workshops covering a wide spectrum of topics including but not limited to:

1. Innovation in the Construction Industry to promote efficiency and import substitution
2. Adaptation of the Construction Industry to changing environmental, climatic, and social conditions
3. Collaboration for Sustainability and adaptation for accelerated infrastructure delivery

So, we are looking forward to a fruitful conference which offer Malawi opportunities to accelerate the infrastructure development component of both the Malawi Implementation Plan One (MIP 1) and the Malawi 2063 where we envision Malawi to be an inclusively wealth nation with safe and resilient infrastructure. And of course, the conference will offer attendees opportunities to network, forge partnerships, and explore business opportunities with peers and experts from around the globe. So, allow me to take this opportunity to encourage those that have not yet registered to attend to do so without hesitation.

End of Statement.

Signed,

Eng. Gerald T. Khonje