South Africa to host global engineering industry's annual gathering
Published: 07 May, 2025
The world's leading engineers and construction industry professionals are set to gather in South Africa, from 21-23 September 2025 when the international engineering federation FIDIC (the International Federation of Consulting Engineers) holds its annual Global Infrastructure Conference in Cape Town.
FIDIC represents the global consulting engineering industry and is responsible for promoting the business interests of global firms supplying technology-based intellectual services for the built and natural environment. FIDIC’s membership counts around 100 national associations across the globe and represents more than one million engineering professionals and 40,000 firms. The buildings and infrastructure sector in which FIDIC members work contributes over US$36trillion to global GDP and many hundreds of professionals from the sector will be coming to Cape Town in September for this flagship industry event.
The conference theme this year is a very topical one. Smart Infrastructure: Equality, Resilience and Innovation for a Sustainable World will set the framework for some essential and timely discussions on the future of infrastructure and how it will be delivered in a changing world. The conference will bring together a high-profile line-up of expert speakers, global influencers, industry experts and sector leaders together in one place for three days of discussion, debate, and networking.
As well as being the flagship annual event for the international consulting engineering sector, FIDIC's Global Infrastructure Conference is also the organisation's annual gathering for its international member associations and Cape Town is expected to welcome FIDIC members from around 100 countries. It’s also extra fitting that the 2025 conference is hosted in Cape Town as the G20 presidency is handed over to South Africa, with a theme for the year around fostering solidarity, equality and sustainable development. "There really could be no better time or place for the infrastructure sector to meet and show its excellence, integrity and significance in shaping a better tomorrow for all and we are delighted to be bringing our crucial industry to South Africa for this important event," said FIDIC's president Catherine Karakatsanis.
Key discussions and sessions at the conference include The politics of infrastructure, where local and global political leaders will be invited to present their views, challenges and opportunities for the sector. A session on how best to deliver infrastructure for society, equality, climate and nature and an essential discussion on How to finance infrastructure with rising debt examining some of the issues around how the infrastructure sector unlocks new and existing money for projects from the local level right through to major regenerations. The conference will also discuss the key role of leadership in a session entitled Delivering infrastructure with integrity, quality and sustainability - leading by example to deliver a better society.
Delegates at the event will also have the opportunity to sample some of the amazing and diverse culture of Cape Town and South Africa itself during this landmark industry event which will host the cream of the world's engineering, construction and infrastructure businesses. It's an industry event not to be missed and the eyes and ears of the engineering world will certainly be trained on Cape Town this September.
For further information on the conference and to book places visit https://events.fidic.org/GIC25
