FIDIC’s president Catherine Karakatsanis went out of her way to praise the outstanding work of FIDIC member associations and lauded an industry for positively impacting billions of peoples lives, as the 2024 FIDIC Global Infrastructure Conference got underway in Geneva this week.
In her opening address at the sold-out event before an international audience of more than 600 industry professionals on 9 September 2024, Karakatsanis said she was honoured to lead an organisation which represents such a crucial industry sector for the world, the work of which makes such a positive difference to billions of people’s lives around the globe.
“I am especially proud of the magnificent work of our member associations who represent their member firms and our industry day-in and day-out and make FIDIC the influential international organisation that it is today,” she said, before thanking the conference partners - platinum sponsors Bentley Systems and Abu Dhabi Projects and Infrastructure Centre, gold sponsors Aon and Autodesk and bronze sponsor Fenwick Elliott.
Turning her attention to the challenges facing the engineering, construction and infrastructure sector, FIDIC’s president tackled them head-on. “We can see that our world is facing challenges. Sadly, the war in Ukraine continues, as do a number of serious conflicts throughout the world, most recently in Gaza. Global geopolitical uncertainty affects our industry as it impacts the economies on which we all depend,” said Karakatsanis. “This uncertainty has not subsided yet and global economies continue to face headwinds. Perhaps this uncertainty and volatility will characterise the future we face and I know that it will form a backdrop to many of our discussions during this conference,” she said.
Despite uncertainty, there are reasons for optimism
Despite political and economic uncertainties, there were many reasons for optimism for the industry to take heart from and look forward to, said Karakatsanis. “We also see around the world that a number of countries have looked to infrastructure programmes as a key opportunity to drive economic progress. This continues to be a significant opportunity for our industry and is likely to grow as governments and institutions around the globe seek to revitalise their infrastructure – and in other parts of the world, redouble their efforts to build it anew,” she said.
Looking at the attendees at the event in Geneva, FIDIC’s president said that it will be the industry leaders represented in the conference hall that will be crucial in ensuring that the world has the infrastructure it needs to move forward and prosper. Karakatsanis said that the theme of the conference was an upbeat and optimistic one too. “Transforming lives with infrastructure – investing in and building a better world for all, will highlight the central importance of good, sustainable, ethical and efficient infrastructure investment in improving and enhancing both the global environment that we all depend on and also the living standards and economic prospects of citizens around the world,” she said and it was a conference that offered attendees “the chance to be part of the global conversation shaping the future of infrastructure”.
Karakatsanis said that she had confidence in the sector to do what was needed to ensure that the world had the efficient, effective and sustainable infrastructure in needed to prosper. “Notwithstanding the challenges we face as a global industry – and indeed as a world – I passionately believe that our engineering, construction and infrastructure industry can provide the answers to those challenges,” she said.
FIDIC's president ended her address on an upbeat note, setting the tone for the conference to come. “We have the people, processes and skills to do what needs to be done and I hope that this conference will inspire us all as we look forward with confidence and also optimism,” Karakatsanis concluded.
