Development Bank of Southern Africa gears up for Built Environment Indaba

Johannesburg, 3 April 2024 – The Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) is proud to announce its participation at the Black Business Council in the Built Environment (BBCBE) for the inaugural Built Environment Indaba. The event will take place 4 - 5 April 2024 at Midrand, Gallagher Convention Centre and will gather key stakeholders from across the built environment sector to discuss and strategise on the theme "Building a transformed built environment through collaboration, procurement, and skills development."

The Built Environment Indaba aims to foster dialogue and collaboration among industry players, government representatives, academia, and civil society to address challenges and opportunities within the built environment sector in Southern Africa. With a focus on transformation, procurement practices, and skills development, the event will explore innovative strategies to drive sustainable growth and inclusive development.

"We are excited to partner with the Black Business Council in the Built Environment to host this important event," said Chuene Ramphele - Group Executive: Infrastructure Delivery, at DBSA. "The built environment plays a crucial role in shaping the future of our communities and economies. By bringing together diverse perspectives and expertise, we can unlock new opportunities and drive meaningful change."

The Indaba will feature keynote address from Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure - Sihle Zikalala, remarks from Gauteng Premier - Panyaza Lesufi and panel discussions from different stakeholders, workshops, and networking sessions covering a wide range of topics, including:

  • Access to infrastructure finance.
  • Driving implementation of regulatory policy to achieve transformation goals.
  • Development of scarce skills in the construction industry.
  • Tangible solutions to the water crisis in South Africa
  • How do we speed up the delivery of human settlement to designated groups.
  • How can the private sector assist government in delivery of roads networks and infrastructure.

The Development Bank of Southern Africa will be involved in 1 of 5 masterclasses where successful infrastructure finance will be discussed. This ties well with the Bank’s mandate of promoting economic growth as well as regional integration for sustainable development projects and programmes across the African continent.

Chuene added that as the Bank, they believe that collaboration is key to unlocking the full potential of the built environment sector, this Indaba provides a unique platform for stakeholders to come together, share insights, and co-create solutions that will drive transformation and economic empowerment.

The Built Environment Indaba is open to all stakeholders with an interest in shaping the future of the built environment in Southern Africa and will feature stakeholders from SANRAL, UJ, government, The South African Council for the Project, and Construction Management Professions and many more.

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About the Development Bank of Southern Africa

The DBSA is a leading Development Finance Institution (DFI), wholly owned by the government of South Africa. Established in 1983, the DBSA is mandated to promote economic growth and regional integration by mobilising financial and other resources from national and international private and public sectors for sustainable development projects and programmes in South Africa, SADC, and the wider African continent.

For more information visit www.dbsa.org. Email: dbsa@dbsa.org

About Black Business Council in the Built Environment

The Black Business Council in the Built Environment (BBCBE) is a representative organisation advocating for the interests of black-owned businesses and professionals in the built environment sector. BBCBE is committed to promoting transformation, empowerment, and inclusive growth within the industry through advocacy, capacity building, and collaboration.