The full program for the 2013 International Construction Economic Forum (ICEF) has been announced. The event, which will be held in Amsterdam from November 20 to 22, will feature 20 presentations from construction industry experts and globally renowned figures. The keynote address will be given by Jose Maria Aznar, the former Prime Minister of Spain, who will discuss issues such as the importance of globalization to the construction industry and how to finance infrastructure in austere times.
The program is designed to appeal to a broad range of executives and senior managers throughout the construction industry from disciplines such as contracting, equipment manufacture, materials production, equipment rental, finance, project management and consultancy. Tickets can be booked on the event's website and are priced at € 749 ex. VAT.
The opening conference session on the morning of November 21 will include presentations on global construction forecasts by IHS Global Insight’s Scott Hazelton, new infrastructure funding models by HSBC’s Trevor Sturmy, critical issues facing international contractors by European International Contractors’ Jules Janssen and global strategies for recessions by FCC Construcción general manager Miguel Jurado Fernández, in addition to Mr Aznar’s keynote address.
The afternoon of Thursday, November 21 will see a session focused on the delivery of projects around the world and will include presentations on two schemes shortlisted for the International Construction Project of the Year award, the JW Marriott Marquis hotel in Dubai - the world’s tallest dedicated hotel – and the 2 km Vidin-Calafat bridge over the Danube - a key piece of European infrastructure and the largest construction project ever in Bulgaria.
Other presenters in the afternoon will include Norty Turner, CEO of Riwal, who will look at how rental companies can serve an ever more international construction sector, Virginie Colaiuta of Pinsent Masons who will present on Investment treaty arbitration, a new form of dispute resolution for international projects, and a further speaker to be announced who will look at international construction costs.
Thursday evening will see a gala dinner and the announcement of the winners of the International Construction Project of the Year award, along with the ICEF Construction Equipment Innovation awards.
Friday’s conference session will focus on the construction equipment sector, with speakers including Zeng Guang’an, President of Liugong, who will look at new players in the global marketplace and the coming of age of china’s construction equipment industry. Other industry thought leaders on the program include Gregory Owens, Chairman and CEO of IronPlanet, who will look at how the Internet is changing the way construction equipment is bought and sold, and Trimble’s Dr Roz Buick, who will speak on how technology is transforming the civil construction sector.
Analysis of global equipment markets will come from Off-Highway Research’s Paul Howard, while Murray Pollok, Editor of International Rental News magazine, will look at development of the international construction equipment rental sector.
Babcock International’s Simon Purchon will discuss fleet selection protocol and choosing the right assets, while Lafarge Vice President Xavier Therin will discuss how major construction equipment fleet operators' needs are changing.
