BTP Expo 2006

BTP Expo 2006, along with the BTP Forum, opened its doors in Casablanca on March 21, 2006, for four days. This second edition, building on the success of the first and under the High Patronage of His Majesty the King, was inaugurated by the Prime Minister, Driss Jettou, at the Office des Changes' International Conference and Exhibition Center in Casablanca.

"Construction and Public Works, a booming sector" was the theme of this major event in the Moroccan building and public works sector, with 114 exhibitors, as well as other speakers and participants from the public and private sectors.

It was organized by the FNBTP (National Federation of Building and Public Works), the Ministry of Equipment and Transport, and the Delegate Ministry in charge of Housing and Urban Planning, in collaboration with APIM (Professional Association of Equipment Importers). MEDCOM agency was the event operator.

This international trade show was based on two areas: exhibitions and a forum. The gross area occupied during BTP Expo was 15,000 m2.
In addition to Morocco, several other countries participated in this trade show, including Canada, China, South Korea, Indonesia, France, Belgium, Italy, Germany, Spain, Portugal, and Turkey.

Regarding visitor numbers, the organizers expected "more than 50,000 visitors representing fifteen countries and all regions of Morocco, composed of professionals, potential buyers, and decision-makers, with a significant anticipated presence of operators from Africa."

The exhibition was structured into several areas dedicated to building (equipment, materials, products, and services), public works (machinery and heavy equipment, small and medium equipment, products and materials, road infrastructure and services), and institutional bodies. According to the organizers, "the BTP Forum will be an information platform and an opportunity for exchanges on the progress of the provisions of the program contract between the government and the National Federation of BTP." The themes selected were training, business financing, national BTP champions, and BTP business management and organization methods.

It should also be noted that the construction and public works sector contributes 5% to GDP (from 12.4 billion dirhams at current prices in 1995 to 22.3 billion in 2005). Its share in total gross fixed capital formation is 43%.
The sector attracts a significant share of investments. This share increased from 39 billion DH in 2000 to 47.3 billion DH in 2004. It employs an average of 9.5% of the urban active population and 4.2% of the rural active population, representing more than 445,000 people and 206,300 people respectively in 2005.

It is the leading sector in terms of the number of insured persons with the National Social Security Fund. It is characterized by a predominance of construction companies (nearly 30%) and has 2,800 qualified and classified companies. They cover the entire national territory, with a relative concentration in Casablanca (22%), Rabat-Salé (17%), and Meknes-Tafilalet (11.4%).

However, it should be noted that the BTP suffers from certain structural weaknesses, including under-capitalization (less than 30% of companies have capital exceeding 1 million DH), modest size, weak management, strong dependence on public procurement, precariousness, the proliferation of the informal sector (from 9,000 units in 1982 to 50,000 in 1996, mainly in housing), and finally, often outdated management and organization methods.

The fact that, despite these weaknesses, the BTP remains one of the most reliable and regular economic sectors speaks volumes about its potential and its ability to reach even greater heights.

Continued…

March 21, 2006