The 2023 edition of this exhibition, called ARCHIBAT, will see the participation of the Orders of Architects of the member countries of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA), sub-regional organization that accompanies this event.
The National Council of the Order of Architects (CNOA) of Cote d’Ivoire, Joseph Amon and Ms. Corine Yao Lasme, representing the Commissioner General of ARCHIBAT, launched on Thursday, May 4, 2023 this exhibition in Abidjan.
Corine Yao Lasme said that the ARCHIBAT 2023 Exhibition, which will be held from 12 to 16 December 2023, will open the “Exhibition Centre of Abidjan,” around the theme “Sustainable Architecture and Local Industries.”
The challenge, she said, is important, because “it will enhance the expertise of local industries guaranteeing the raw material on short circuits in the dual objective of reducing the carbon footprint to protect the environment, but also in order to reduce final costs.”
Some 30,000 visitors expected
The show will be held in Hall 01 of the Exhibition Center, an architectural jewel with an area of 7,200 square meters, where 232 stands corresponding to an area of 2,886 square meters will be available to exhibitors.
“Two years ago, when the world was gradually emerging from the Covid-19-related health crisis, the show at the hotel Ivoire had hosted 150 exhibitors and registered 13,000 visitors. This year, we expect 30,000 visitors,” Corine Lasme said.
“During the 16 years of organizing this biennial event, we bring progressive innovations to make it more interesting and attractive for both exhibitors and the general public. We will not deviate from the rule,” she promised.
Among the activities on the agenda are the exhibition, conferences and B to B meetings, she listed, before adding that a window is offered to visitors in the Competition for the most beautiful stand. They are invited to vote for the winner of this edition.
ARCHIBAT opens up to the world
Mr. Joseph Amon announced at these meetings the presidents of the Councils of the Orders of Architects of Benin, Burkina Faso, Senegal, Mali, Niger, Togo, and Guinea Bissau who are associated with this ceremony by “the support and accompaniment of the UEMOA.”
He also announced the participation of the FAFA, (Federation of Francophone Architects of Africa) and the new organization of the AAF (Alliance of Francophone Architects) who has expressed a strong desire to participate in next December’s event to take place on the banks of the Ebrie Lagoon.
The president of the CNOA, Joseph Amon, was pleased that this adventure that began in 2007 is in its ninth edition with an evocative theme: Sustainable Architecture and Local Industries. The event will be held in hybrid format.
This exhibition is part of “a process to engage Ivorian architects, but also the West African space through its conference, in the process involving the industrialists of our states involved in the building sectors mainly, all other development sectors of our countries,” he said.
This meeting is intended as a market where both supply and demand meet together. The World Bank indicates that Africa, with a market of over 1.2 billion people, the continent is the largest free trade area in the world.
“Transforming locally is a major issue for Africa in general and our regional countries in particular,” he said. The UEMOA space is a market of more than 123 million people, which is a godsend for investors.
Koupo Gnoleba, technical adviser, representing the Ivorian Minister of Construction, Housing and Urban Planning, welcomed the choice of this year’s theme, which calls for resilience to climate change.
He also welcomed the fact that local industries enter this dynamic, not only allowing to reduce the energy impact of construction but also position themselves as a means to boost the local economy.
AP/fss/abj/APA