On Tuesday, February 3, 2026, the Azalai Hotel in Abidjan hosted the launch ceremony for the 5th edition of the Abidjan Infrastructure Fair (SIA 2026), which will take place from September 17 to 19, 2026, at the Abidjan Exhibition Center on Airport Road. The event’s overarching theme is: “Digitalization, the circular economy, and sustainable resource management in the construction industry.”
During this press conference, Mr. Lamine Koné, president of the Ivorian Construction and Public Works Group (Gibtp), co-organizer of the fair alongside Axes Marketing, noted that the event will feature a guest of honor country and international participants who recognize the fair’s reputation and its significance for the construction and public works sector in West Africa.
Furthermore, President Lamine Koné explained that the theme of the 5th edition stems from the need for the construction and public works sector to transform itself in order to meet growing demands for performance, competitiveness, environmental sustainability, and social responsibility.
Mr. Koné also noted the urgency for companies in the sector to adopt digital technologies in the design, execution, and management of projects, to follow the principles of the circular economy, and to promote more sustainable and efficient management of natural and energy resources.
Launched in 2014 (RoutExpo), the SIA has, over the course of its editions, become a true hub for exchange, innovation, and inspiration, bringing together stakeholders from the infrastructure ecosystem to explore ways to address the sector’s challenges. As with the previous edition, four sectors are involved: building and roads, electricity, water and sanitation, and telecommunications.
The theme of SIA 2026 reflects the urgency and necessity for the infrastructure sector to adapt to the demands of sustainability, performance, and environmental responsibility.
For his part, the Chair of the SIA Scientific Committee, Dr. Paulin Kouassi, presented the structure of the scientific forum, its objectives, and the expected outcomes of the discussions, which will focus on the general theme, the inaugural conference, the economic forum, and the four panels. Thus, the following sub-themes will be discussed: Inaugural Conference: “Digitalization, Circular Economy, and Sustainable Resource Management in the Construction Industry”; Economic Forum: “Business Opportunities in the Construction Industry in Côte d’Ivoire”; Panel 1: “Digitalization and Digital Transformation of the Construction Industry in Africa: Challenges and Opportunities”; Panel 2: “Circular Economy and Waste/Material Recovery in the Construction Sector”; Panel 3: “Sustainable Resource Management and Energy Efficiency in the Construction Sector”; Panel 4: “Public Policies, Standards, and Financing for a Sustainable and Digitalized Construction Sector in Africa.”
In addition, the GIBTP-Training program will bring together approximately fifty participants, including corporate executives, for an introduction or capacity-building session on the topic of Artificial Intelligence applied to the construction sector, under the theme: “Artificial Intelligence and its use in the construction sector: An introduction for stakeholders (companies, engineering firms, project owners).”
The General Commissioner of the trade show, Mr. Ismaël Boga-N’Guessan, presented the offerings and conditions for participation for institutional stakeholders, as well as public and private companies. He also outlined the use of the various sections reserved for exhibitors in Hall 1 and the outdoor area for equipment demonstrations and innovations.
The GIBTP has 85 member companies, both national and international, across all sectors, including an association of 50 SMEs. In 2023, its members reported a combined revenue of over 2.83 trillion CFA francs and generated approximately 40,000 direct jobs.
Affiliated with the General Confederation of Enterprises of Côte d’Ivoire (CGECI, the Ivorian employers’ association), the GIBTP has been chaired since June 14, 2024, by Mr. Lamine Koné, elected for a three-year term (2024–2027), who is also vice president of the CGECI.
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