As the global construction industry races to meet the demands of rapid urbanisation, climate resilience and energy transition, Nigeria and Africa are increasingly being recognised as critical players in shaping the future of infrastructure development. This growing significance will be highlighted at Intermat 2027, one of the world’s foremost construction and public works exhibitions, scheduled to hold in Paris from April 21 to 24, 2027.
The organisers have announced that Africa, with particular emphasis on Nigeria, will be a major focus of the upcoming edition. Central to this initiative is the African Summit slated for April 22, 2027, which will bring together industry leaders, policymakers, investors, engineers and construction professionals to discuss sustainable growth opportunities across the continent.
Held every three years at Paris Nord Villepinte, Intermat has evolved into a leading international platform where manufacturers, contractors, distributors, engineers and decision-makers converge to explore emerging technologies and solutions transforming the construction sector. The 2027 edition will be staged alongside World of Concrete Europe, further expanding its relevance to stakeholders in the building and concrete industries.
For Nigeria, which continues to battle a massive infrastructure deficit, the event offers a strategic opportunity to engage with global innovations capable of accelerating development while addressing sustainability concerns.
According to Akin Akinbola, managing director of Promosalons Nigeria and Cameroon, several Nigerian industry associations and professional bodies are already mobilising participation for the event. Among them are the Federation of Construction Industry, Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria, Council of Registered Builders of Nigeria, Cement Producers Association of Nigeria, Green Building Council Nigeria, Nigeria Mining and Geosciences Society, Association of Consulting Engineers Nigeria, and various equipment leasing and mining associations.
The strong Nigerian presence reflects the country’s status as Africa’s largest economy and one of its fastest-growing construction markets. With increasing investments in transportation networks, housing, mining, energy and industrial infrastructure, the demand for modern equipment, technical expertise and sustainable construction methods has never been greater.
In preparation for the exhibition, Intermat recently released a special publication titled “The Construction Industry Rising to the Challenge of Sustainability,” outlining the three pillars expected to dominate discussions at the event: economic, environmental and social sustainability.
The publication reflects the shared vision of five major French construction industry organisations, C-MAT, EVOLIS, DLR, FFB and FNTP, which have joined forces to drive sustainable transformation while preserving the sector’s competitiveness.
Speaking on behalf of the organisers, Philippe Cohet, chairman of DLR, and Alain Grizaud, chairman of the National Federation of Public Works (FNTP), noted that sustainability has become the defining challenge for the entire construction ecosystem.
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According to them, sustainability today goes beyond environmental concerns to encompass economic viability and societal impact, especially at a time when global energy systems, industrial structures and regional economic balances are undergoing profound changes. They emphasised that the industry’s collective response has been strengthened through collaboration, including the creation of the CINERGIC consortium dedicated to advancing construction-site energy solutions.
One of the central themes of Intermat 2027 will be economic sustainability. While governments and businesses around the world pursue ambitious carbon reduction goals, industry stakeholders continue to grapple with the realities of financing the transition.
The EU’s target of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 has intensified pressure on manufacturers, equipment suppliers and contractors to reduce emissions while maintaining profitability and competitiveness.
According to Guillaume Schaeffer, director of the Intermat trade show, the challenge is no longer whether the industry is committed to sustainability but how to achieve it under economically viable conditions. He explained that Intermat serves as a platform for sharing experiences, identifying workable business models and discussing practical conditions for large-scale implementation.
A major issue under discussion is access to modern equipment. With low-carbon machinery often carrying higher upfront costs, leasing has emerged as an increasingly important solution. Cohet pointed out that approximately 80 percent of construction machines in Europe are now leased, helping businesses access advanced technology while limiting capital expenditure. Such models could offer valuable lessons for Nigeria and other African countries where financing constraints remain a significant barrier to infrastructure development.
Environmental sustainability will also feature prominently at the exhibition. As the sector seeks to reduce emissions, attention is shifting toward a multi-energy future involving electric equipment, hydrogen-powered machinery, biofuels, digital technologies, drones, Building Information Modelling (BIM), Internet of Things applications and 3D printing.
Xavier Neuschwander, chairman of FNTP’s Technical and Innovation Committee, stressed that carbon-free energy sources remain less abundant than conventional fuels, making it necessary for the industry to adopt solutions tailored to specific operational needs.
The sector’s transition is further supported by the CINERGIC consortium, whose efforts have already helped secure €20 million in financial support for electric construction equipment in Europe.
According to Davy Guillemard, president of C-MAT, environmental sustainability is not only about adopting new technologies but also improving operational efficiency through eco-driving practices, driver-assistance systems and reducing unnecessary machine idling.
Another key challenge facing the industry is workforce development. Across many countries, construction companies struggle to recruit and retain skilled personnel despite rising demand.
Jean-Claude Fayat, first vice-president of EVOLIS and president of the French Mechanical Industries Federation (FIM), believes the industry must do more to showcase how construction careers have evolved. He noted that modern construction jobs are increasingly technology-driven, less physically demanding and offer greater opportunities for initiative and professional growth.
Similarly, Sébastien Ramé, vice-president of UMGO-FFB, observed that companies are becoming more open to recruiting people from diverse professional backgrounds, creating new pathways for career transitions into the sector.
For Nigeria and Africa, where millions of young people enter the labour market annually, these developments hold significant implications. The integration of advanced technologies, sustainable energy solutions and modern workforce training could help position the continent as a major beneficiary of the global construction industry’s transformation.
By placing Nigeria and Africa at the heart of its 2027 agenda, Intermat is sending a clear message that the continent is no longer merely a destination for construction investment but an essential partner in shaping the future of sustainable infrastructure worldwide.
