Yemisi Izuora
IMAG (a subsidiary of the bauma-organizer Messe München) and Nigerian Afrocet Montgomery are organizing the first trade fair for construction machinery and mining in Nigeria.
“We are pleased that we will now also be able to expand our commitment in Africa in the western part of the continent with the “ConMin West Africa” Nigeria particularly has great potential for the construction industry, ” says Gabriele Kraus, Executive Director of the Internationaler Messe- und Ausstellungsdienst GmbH (IMAG) in Munich.
In Africa, IMAG has already been active in construction machinery fairs in Algeria, Kenya and South Africa.
Since 2014, Nigeria has been regarded as the largest economy in Africa; in fact, the country has been shining in recent years with high single-digit economic growth rates.
The country has large oil and gas resources – Nigeria is the largest oil producer in Africa, but it still lacks the infrastructure for petroleum refining.
Major construction projects are being undertaken in the country. Near the capital Abuja (2.5 million inhabitants) inland and the port city of Lagos (18 million inhabitants), entire new cities are to be created with the “Centenary City” and “Eko Atlantic City”.
In addition, Nigeria plans to expand railway lines, ports and airport terminals on a large scale, as well as a large refinery, to be able to process the oil produced in the country and to not be dependent on gasoline imports from abroad.
ConMin West Africa is intended to take place annually and is supported by the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development based in Abuja.
“We are looking forward to work with our partner Afrocet Montgomery as one of the leading organizers of trade shows in West Africa, ” says Kraus. The trade fair will be accompanied by a conference.
The first trade fair in West Africa for construction machinery and mining, ConMin West Africa, will be held from April 25th to 27th at the International Convention Centre in the Nigerian capital Abuja.