Business

LOBAMBA – The Eswatini Association of Consulting Consultants (EACC) has called for greater involvement of consulting professionals in infrastructure projects, saying their expertise is critical to ensuring that public investments are delivered safely, efficiently and sustainably.

Speaking during the Construction Industry Dialogue yesterday, EACC Vice Chairperson Sibusiso Dlamini said infrastructure development should not only focus on constructing buildings, roads and bridges, but on creating quality assets that would serve the country for generations.

He said compliance with standards and the active involvement of qualified professionals were essential to ensuring that infrastructure projects delivered value for money and remained durable.

"Infrastructure development is not only about buildings, bridges and services. It is about creating an enabling environment for economic growth, improving livelihoods, supporting service delivery and building a sustainable future," he said.

Dlamini said consultants played a vital role in planning, designing and overseeing projects to ensure they met the required standards.

He said the construction sector remained a key driver of economic development and required collaboration between all stakeholders to deliver quality infrastructure.

The vice chairperson said the association had made significant progress in strengthening its structures, improving stakeholder representation and enhancing its operational readiness.

He said the EACC had developed a strategic plan that would position the association to better serve its members while making a greater contribution to the country's infrastructure development agenda.

"Our achievements have laid the foundation for a more organised, visible and impactful association. The next phase is to build on that foundation by strengthening our structures, expanding partnerships and increasing our contribution to the construction sector," he said.

Dlamini said the association's strategic plan focused on three priorities: sustainability, organisational effectiveness and industry development.

He said these priorities were aligned with government's infrastructure agenda and were intended to strengthen the consulting profession while contributing to the delivery of quality public infrastructure.

The EACC, he added, had developed programmes aimed at improving the construction sector by translating its strategic objectives into practical action that would benefit both members and the industry.

However, he acknowledged that challenges remained, particularly in maintaining professional standards, improving quality and strengthening safety within the construction industry.

He said the association was committed to promoting better design practices and continuous improvement across the profession.

Dlamini also stressed the importance of stronger stakeholder engagement, saying closer collaboration between clients, regulators, consultants, contractors, suppliers and training institutions was necessary to build a coordinated and competitive construction sector.

He reaffirmed the association's commitment to working with the Ministry of Public Works and Transport and other industry stakeholders to advance infrastructure development.

"We remain committed to playing our part in strengthening infrastructure development and building a construction sector that is professional, inclusive, progressive, innovative and capable of delivering infrastructure that truly supports national development," he said.

The Eswatini Association of Consulting Consultants (EACC) has called for greater involvement of consulting professionals in infrastructure projects, saying their expertise is critical to ensuring that public investments are delivered safely, efficiently and sustainably.