Abidjan is experiencing strong demand for office, residential and retail space

Groupe Duval has received loan backing from the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and France's Proparco in support of a construction project in Côte d’Ivoire to build high-quality office and retail space in Abidjan

In a statement, IFC said the project will support green, modern, mixed-use construction practices in the country and help to address "strong demand" for quality office space, retail space and serviced apartments in the Ivorian capital, supporting job creation and the hospitality and business tourism sectors.

Under the partnership, IFC and Proparco will each loan Groupe Duval around US$17.6mn to support the construction of Village Notre Père, a modern shopping, office and living space across about 21,000 square metres in Abidjan’s Plateau business district.

An estimated 30% of the project’s area will be rented by Odalys City, a serviced apartment hotel brand of the Groupe Duval, reaffirming the group’s interest in growing its hospitality business in Africa.

It is the second project of its kind, following the construction of the EDGE-certified mixed-use Inzovu Mall in Rwanda, in which IFC and Proparco also supported Groupe Duval.

For the latest project, IFC will also assist Duval to achieve EDGE green building certification and build its capacity on environmental and social performance.

"This investment highlights IFC's dedication to advancing Côte d’Ivoire’s urbanisation goals, sustainability and gender issues by implementing EDGE green building certification and creating human resources policies that are inclusive of gender considerations,” said Ethiopis Tafara, IFC's vice president for Africa.

As of March 2025, IFC, the World Bank's private finance arm, had an active investment portfolio of US$780mn in Côte d’Ivoire, focusing on housing, agricultural value chains, infrastructure (including digital), capital market development, health, creative industries and access to finance for SMEs.

"Proparco is pleased with the dynamic partnership with Groupe Duval," added Françoise Lombard, Proparco's chief executive officer.

"We are proud to support the real estate project 'Village Notre Père,' which will undoubtedly strengthen the offer of modern and sustainable infrastructure in the Plateau area and enhance Abidjan’s international influence," 

Proparco is a subsidiary of Agence Française de Développement, the French development group.

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Indeco discussed new products and business plans at a bauma press conference. (Image source: Alain Charles Publishing)

At bauma 2025, Italy’s Indeco, which specialises in hydraulic equipment for earth-moving, demolition and recycling, announced new products and revealed its global expansion plans

New products launched included a new demolition product that will pave the way for a new range. The new IDC primary demolition jaw (IDC 70) is specifically designed for primary demolition work on reinforced concrete structures. This is a very large attachment (3,350mm long by 610 mm wide), designed to optimise the weight to power ratio for precise and efficient operations under all conditions and even at great heights. It features two large cylinders, made to a unique Indeco design, which provide the necessary force (350 bar) in every jobsite condition, fitted with long-life seals that can withstand up to 700 bar. It offers greater jaw opening (1800 mm) compared to similar rival products of the same class, and an innovative interchangeable teeth system which speeds up maintenance operations and reduces machine downtime. The regeneration valve makes the jaw open and close faster under no-load conditions.

The company also introduced three new models of forestry mulching heads which will expand the range of options available for excavators, compact excavators and skid steers, while innovations on the classic hammers include the technological upgrading of the automatic greasing system, along with changes to the control unit circuits. Among the most important accessories for hydraulic hammers, the automatic greasing system is designed to keep the hammers in perfect working order at all times by using the right amount of lubricant and cutting out the machine downtimes needed for manual greasing.

Expansion plans

Discussing the company’s global operations at a press conference, Michele Vitulano, global sales and marketing manager of the company, said that despite a challenging 2024, sales were better than the market average, and are already up by 25% this year.

The company is exploring new product lines, including safety equipment, to expand its offerings and meet customer needs, attaching importance to having a diverse product portfolio to cater to different market segments and customer requirements. Continuous product improvements in order to satisfy the broadest range of differing operator needs mean the Indeco range of hammers is particularly extensive, featuring 23 models with around 50 different combinations, and the company has continued to expand its range in other areas with the introduction of new products intended for the broadest fields of application: from recycling to material handling, from loading to forestry handling.

In 2024, Indeco reinforced its North American presence with the opening of Indeco Canada. The company is expanding its dealer network globally and has consolidated its commercial partnerships in regions including Africa and the Middle East where, through its products and network of retailers, it collaborates in the development of some major infrastructure projects. The company finds the Middle East very price conscious, with strong competition from China, but sees good potential for expansion in Africa, given the size of the market, and is doing well in some countries. “The challenge is to find a dealer or importer to provide a service, as it is not always easy from a logistics point of view,” said Vitulano, adding that the various number of attachments involved poses an additional challenge.

At the press conference, the company announced it will be establishing an operation in India by the end of this year with an Indian partner. Indeco has seen strong growth in this market by working with a number of local partners, and is price competitive here due to the tariffs applied to Chinese and South Korean products. The India hub could potentially play a role in expanding sales to Africa, given the links between India and the continent and the fiscal and tariff advantages, Vitulano said.

Chryso helps transform concrete across Africa with striking architectural solutions

With growing demand for buildings that are not only functional but also visually striking, Chryso is helping customers reshape the face of concrete

According to Michelle Fick, business unit development manager for concrete aesthetics at Chryso Southern Africa, customers now have access to a wider range of innovative products tailored to various applications.

Driven by technological advancements and a strong appreciation for architectural innovation, the company now offers a broad portfolio of solutions that ensure concrete is both durable and beautiful.

“To achieve the desired aesthetic impact, it is essential to consider how the concrete is applied,” said Fick.

“That is why we offer a comprehensive suite of solutions, including surface retarders, integral pigments, surface treatments, curing compounds and demoulding oils.”

These products can be used in combination to enhance even the most basic concrete features such as pillars or floors, ensuring that aesthetics are never overlooked, regardless of the project’s scale or complexity.

One of the most common requirements in aesthetic concrete applications is colour consistency, said Fick.

Chryso’s integral iron oxide pigments provide vibrant durable colour throughout the concrete mass, so even chips or abrasions won’t reveal an underlying colour difference.

Surface quality is another priority. Chryso’s plasticisers and superplasticisers improve the workability and flow of the concrete mix, reducing surface defects and ensuring a smooth high quality finish.

To further strengthen and enhance surface performance, the company also offers densifiers and hardeners that provide improved abrasion resistance. Additionally, its release agents support a clean separation from formwork, enabling a high class finish with consistent colour and texture.

Surface finishing is key to consistency, and CHRYSO FiniSafe can be applied just before the final finishing operation to enhance surface uniformity.

Fick stressed that the success of any aesthetic concrete application depends on best practice.

“Consistent batch control, quality materials and correct curing techniques are essential,” she said.

“We always recommend proper concrete trials before commencing a project, especially for large-scale applications, to confirm the best combination of admixtures and placement methods.”

Texture also plays a vital role in the visual appeal of concrete. Viscosity modifying admixtures like CHRYSO Quad 20 improve cohesion, preventing issues such as segregation or honeycombing.

Efflorescence — the white powdery residue that can appear on concrete surfaces — is another common challenge the company tackles with products like CHRYSO Fuge B, an integral waterproofing admixture that blocks pores and reduces the risk of moisture ingress.

It also offers water-repellent surface treatments, such as dry-coat sealers, which prevent water from reacting with free lime, the cause of efflorescence.

Fick said that Chryso takes a collaborative approach, working closely with customers from planning to execution to ensure outstanding aesthetic outcomes.

“Our innovations are designed to make concrete beautiful,” she said. “But it is our hands-on support that helps customers unlock their full creative and architectural potential.”

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Nigeria's infrastructure set for investment boost.

The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) has approved a new five-year strategy for Nigeria with a core focus on building up the nation’s infrastructure

The bank has pledged an annual investment of US$650mn through 2030, with US$2.95mn allocated over the next four years. This will be complemented by other development partners to boost roads, power, and other infrastructure sectors.

It said additional funds from co-financing partners would be worth an estimated US$3.21bn, without giving further details.

In a statement, the AfDB said the strategy focuses on two priority areas: promoting sustainable infrastructure and boosting industrialisation.

“The strategy aims to close Nigeria’s critical infrastructure gap – estimated at US$2.3 trillion between 2020 and 2043 – by investing in climate-friendly roads, power and water systems, and supporting agribusinesses that create jobs, especially for women and youth.”

It said the bank’s investments are projected to support Nigeria’s ambition to double the size of its economy to US$1trn and to create more than 1.5 million new jobs.

“This strategy takes a transformative partnership between the bank and Nigeria to a new level,” said Abdul Kamara, director general of the AfDB’s Nigeria office.

“By investing in sustainable infrastructure and inclusive agricultural growth, we are not only building roads, power systems and transforming agriculture – we are building pathways to prosperity for millions of Nigerians.”

The new strategy aligns with Nigeria’s own long-term development plans, including its Agenda 2050, the National Development Plan 2021-2025, and the 2023 Renewed Hope Agenda.

It also supports the country’s efforts to capitalise on opportunities arising out of the African Continental Free Trade Area by boosting energy access, improving transportation networks and enhancing market access for farmers, agro-entrepreneurs and businesses.

According to the AfDB, millions of Nigerians, including micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises, as well as governments and rural communities, are expected to benefit from improved access to finance, enhanced supply chains, training and business opportunities.

Women entrepreneurs will also receive targeted support under programmes like the bank’s Affirmative Finance Action for Women in Africa (AFAWA) initiative, while youth will gain critical skills to tackle unemployment.

By supporting greener, more resilient infrastructure and agricultural systems, the strategy also aims to strengthen Nigeria’s climate adaptation efforts, mitigating the effects of floods and droughts, the AfDB noted.

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