The fifth edition of the Abidjan Infrastructure Fair (SIA), a networking platform for all stakeholders in the construction industry in Côte d’Ivoire and beyond, is scheduled for September 17, 18, and 19, 2026, at the Abidjan Exhibition Center, with the theme: “Digitalization, the Circular Economy, and Sustainable Resource Management in the Construction Industry.”
About 100,000 exhibitors and 5,000 “qualified visitors” are expected to attend this event, organized by Axes Marketing and the Ivorian Association of Building and Public Works (GIBTP).
The announcement was made on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, in Abidjan during a launch conference co-hosted by Mr. Lamine Koné, President of the GIBTP; Mr. Ismaël Boga-N’Guessan, Commissioner General of the SIA; and Dr. Paulin Kouassi, Chair of the Scientific Committee for SIA 2026.
According to Lamine Koné, president of the GIBTP, the SIA serves as a hub for ideas, visions, and solutions, where public decision-makers, businesses, experts, and technical partners come together “in a shared effort to envision, build, and finance the infrastructure of tomorrow.”
“The construction industry is now at the heart of the digital and ecological transitions. It is both a major consumer of resources and a powerful driver of innovation, job creation, and value added,” said the president of the GIBTP.
To this end, Mr. Koné argued that it is therefore imperative for companies to integrate digital tools into the design, execution, and management of projects, to adopt the principles of the circular economy, and to promote a more sustainable and efficient management of natural and energy resources.
He went on to note that for this 5th edition, the SIA will welcome a guest of honor country, foreign delegations, B2B and B2G meetings, as well as numerous opportunities to share experiences and explore business partnerships.
The president of the GIBTP went on to note that the SIA’s goal is to position Abidjan, the economic capital of Côte d’Ivoire, as a regional hub for sustainable and innovative infrastructure.
For his part, Ismaël Boga-N’Guessan, the general commissioner of SIA 2026, stated that the event aims, among other things, to bring together decision-makers, investors, and businesses on a strategic platform to accelerate infrastructure development; explore innovative business financing and sustainable solutions to boost competitiveness and promote employment and skills in a sector undergoing rapid digital and ecological transformation.
In addition, Mr. Boga announced that this year’s SIA will feature “inspiring panels,” B2B and B2G meetings, corporate and equipment exhibitions, an “Innovative Day,” and a green business area.
He also added that there will be four main exhibition areas, just as there were in 2024.
These include the road network, the power grid, water and sanitation, and telecommunications.
“The construction and public works sector is one of the major pillars of economic, social, and regional development, both in Côte d’Ivoire and across Africa, and indeed on a global scale. “It encompasses issues of economic growth, job creation, and technological innovation, as well as major challenges in terms of environmental sustainability and governance,” added Dr. Paulin Kouassi, chair of the SIA 2026 Scientific Committee.
In his view, for the construction industry, digitalization is now seen as an essential tool for improving productivity, the quality of construction projects, cost and schedule control, as well as transparency in project management.
“The issue of sustainable resource and energy management is equally critical. The construction industry is both a major consumer of natural resources and a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions. Mitigating these impacts necessarily involves adopting energy-efficient technologies, integrating renewable energy, and improving governance throughout the infrastructure lifecycle,” explained Dr. Kouassi, among other points.
In his view, the African continent faces a major structural infrastructure deficit.
“Digitalization and the circular economy offer concrete solutions for building better and faster, reducing costs, minimizing environmental impact, and, above all, establishing an African model for the construction industry based on innovation, the utilization of local resources, and strengthened governance,” he said.
According to Dr. Kouassi, the conference will feature presentations on several subtopics, including an opening lecture on the central theme and an economic forum on the construction industry.
“The GIBTP will place particular emphasis on capacity building through the ‘GIBTP Training’ session, which is dedicated to artificial intelligence and its application in the construction sector, for the benefit of companies, engineering firms, and project owners,” he added.
With its 2026 edition, the Abidjan Infrastructure Fair (SIA) aims to reach a new level of maturity by focusing discussions on the structural, sustainable, and responsible transformation of the construction sector.
L. Barro