BIGEN AFRICA has enhanced its vision, mission and value proposition to reflect its thought leadership in providing innovative sustainable infrastructure development solutions in Africa and abroad over the entire projects lifecycle.

BIGEN AFRICA’s new vision emphasises the improvement of the quality of life of all through sustainable infrastructure development. Its mission is to become the thought-leading multi-national infrastructure development consultancy with three main capabilities spanning thirteen sectors, including water, sanitation, roads, energy, housing and rural development:

• Engineering (e.g. civil, structural, and electrical);
• Management Consulting (e.g. programme management and asset management); and
• Development Financing (e.g. project financing and transactional advisory).

While strengthening the Southern Africa business with South Africa as the regional port of entry, BIGEN AFRICA will also expand its Africa footprint; initially into West Africa through Ghana (BIGEN AFRICA already has two offices in Nigeria) and then into East Africa through Kenya. By 2016, BIGEN AFRICA will expand its offices into Central and North Africa – the current approach is project- and not office-focused. BIGEN AFRICA has fourteen offices in South Africa, and is represented in eight countries in the rest of the continent,  including Mauritius. The expansion vision of BIGEN AFRICA focuses on using its Partnership Strategy as the platform for doing business outside South Africa and outside Africa. The brand is increasingly recognised in
Australia, Ireland, Britain, Dubai, Iran, and China. Although BIGEN AFRICA’s base is in South Africa, it will continue to focus on doing projects in Africa and participate in infrastructure development projects outside the continent.

CONTRIBUTING TO SUSTAINABLE INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT

“Our infrastructure development strategy is clearly focused on contributing to a country’s strategy by addressing its resource, political, economic, social, environmental and technological issues, which are most likely to significantly impact on the lives of people over the short and medium to long term. We recognise the need to participate inassisting countries to address their key emerging public policy priorities which, among others, include integrated human settlements, water and sanitation, rural development, renewable energy, mining, road and rail freight transport, health and education, development/project financing, operation and maintenance of existing infrastructure,” said Dr Snowy Khoza, CEO.

ENHANCING DEVELOPMENT IMPACT: POVERTY REDUCTION, CAPACITY BUILDING AND JOB CREATION

Dr Khoza added that “infrastructure development is, first and foremost, about the sustainable benefits of the socially desirable developmental outcomes that emanate from the use of the infrastructure. Our  commitment to all the countries that we operate in (through our annual social compacts) is contributions
with a development impact.” The development impact includes:

• Access to services such as water and sanitation, energy and roads for thecommunities;
• Reduction of poverty through inter alia rural development by facilitatingagricultural beneficiation of products;
• Capacity building, empowerment and skills transfer to local labour and small businesses for sustainable broad-based empowerment or indigenisation; and
• Creation of sustainable quality jobopportunities for communities.

DOING GOOD WHILE DOING BUSINESS

BIGEN AFRICA’s ‘corporate social responsibility (CSR)’ is about doing good while doing business.

“While we believe in CSR approaches, the difference which sets us apart from other corporates is that we believe doing business is about doing good,” said Dr Khoza, a development activist at heart. She  emphasised that “gone are the days when corporates will take resources from communities and as an after-thought give ‘something’ back to communities. As we plan projects, we also plan our contribution for community priority needs – to leave and maintain a legacy.”