Saint‑Gobain Africa has confirmed its participation in the 2026 Africa CEO Forum, with CEO Aymeric d’Ydewalle set to join senior business leaders and policymakers in a high‑level panel discussion on the future of Africa’s urban and industrial development.
Taking place in Kigali on 14–15 May 2026, the Africa CEO Forum convenes the continent’s leading decision‑makers to shape Africa’s economic trajectory. Aymeric d’Ydewalle will speak on the panel “Nuts & Bolts: The silent bottleneck behind Africa’s urban expansion”, addressing the industrial realities underpinning Africa’s rapidly growing cities.
The discussion will focus on the often‑overlooked foundations of urban growth: local manufacturing capacity, access to energy, logistics, and supply chains that enable cities to be built affordably, resiliently and on a scale.
Saint‑Gobain Africa’s participation reflects its commitment to actively engage in conversations shaping Africa’s future, bringing an industry perspective grounded in local production, regional value chains and long‑term investment.
Through its Make it in Africa to Build Africa (MABA) commitment, Saint‑Gobain Africa aims to work alongside local makers and builders, strengthening skills, production and systems needed to support sustainable urban growth.
“Africa’s urbanisation challenge is not just about demand or design, it’s about whether we build the industrial capacity to deliver at scale,” said Aymeric d’Ydewalle, CEO of Saint‑Gobain Africa. “Participating in these forums is essential to ensuring industry plays its role in leading Africa forward.”
The panel will bring together senior executives from construction, energy, manufacturing and finance, highlighting the role of the private sector in:
- Scaling local production of construction materials
- Unlocking industrial capacity through energy and logistics
- Developing new contracting and offtake models to support long‑term investment
Through its presence at the Africa CEO Forum, Saint‑Gobain Africa reinforces its role not only as a manufacturer, but as a partner in Africa’s growth story.