VDMA delegates to visit Angola and Kenya

Under the umbrella of the VDMA Construction Equipment and Building Material Machinery Association, eight cement plant engineering companies will send representatives to Luanda and Nairobi in the week beginning 17^th November to host symposia for local building material manufacturers. The symposia will offer attendees the opportunity to learn about technical solutions “made in Germany” and to discuss local features and individual requirements.  

‘Believing in Africa’

“With our symposia, we hope to create opportunities for our customers,” said delegation leader Bernhard Pagenkemper, Head of Sales at Haver & Boecker, explaining the aim of this commitment in sub-Saharan Africa. “It is worth believing in Africa: every country offers opportunities for our companies to sell something.” In addition to Haver & Boecker, the delegation includes representatives from Aumund, Claudius Peters, Hazemag & EPR, Gebr. Pfeiffer, Christian Pfeiffer, Toni Technik and ThyssenKrupp.

Angola and Kenya are developing well

Angola and Kenya are enjoying economic growth and increasing cement consumption, but the construction material industries of both countries have a long way to go to catch up. Until 2013, cement was the most-imported product in Angola by some margin. Cement imports were banned at the start of this year in order to kick-start domestic production. Experts estimate production in the country to be around 5.5 million t, while demand is 8.5 million tpa. The government plans to increase capacity to 12 million t by 2016, so that the surplus can be exported to other countries in the region. The political situation can be expected to remain stable at least until the next election in 2017, and infrastructure and construction projects are being financed with profits from the oil business.

The sector also sees significant potential in eastern African countries. In Kenya, for example, cement consumption rose by 6.8% in 2013 compared to the previous year, putting it at 4.2 million t. Here, too, various large-scale projects and increasing private need for building materials is pushing up demand.

German companies can provide training and services

This presents a good business opportunity for the German mechanical and plant engineering companies, but as Pagenkemper says, “We want to do more than just help the countries with deliveries; we want to train the people in how to use the machines and to establish proper service.” The Germans hope that this long-term commitment will distinguish them from the Chinese competition, which is ubiquitous in sub-Saharan Africa. 

The symposium in Luanda will be held on November 18; that in Nairobi on November 20. The events are being organised in cooperation with the local German Chambers of Commerce abroad.

The Angola/Kenya initiative is the cement sector's seventh joint delegation trip under the VDMA flag, following in the footsteps of events in Chile, Peru, Brazil, Algeria, Libya, Russia, India and Iran.

More information on the technology symposia is available from Alessandro Colucci by telephone at +49-69-6603-1254 or email at salessandro.colucci@vdma.org.

Adapted from press release by Katherine Guenioui

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcement.com/africa-middle-east/16102014/vdma-delegates-to-visit-angola-and-kenya-680/