Under the motto “Civil engineering to transform the world”, the Association of Civil Engineers has launched the IV Week of Civil Engineering in Madrid, inaugurated by Manuela Carmena, mayoress of Madrid, at an act held on 19 May in Madrid.

As part of the inaugural activities of this edition, the Corporate Strategy and Systems General Director of the OHL Group, Alfonso Orantes, along with Juan Ignacio Entrecanales, Executive Vice-Chairman of Acciona; Miguel Jurado, Chairman of FCC Construcción; José María Orihuela, CEO of Sacyr Construcción; and Santiago García, Manager for Europe of Construcción ACS, participated in a round table where the current situation of the engineering sector was discussed, as well as the challenges it is facing. 

During his speech, Alfonso Orantes pointed out the huge contribution made by the sector to the “Spain Brand”, emphasizing the huge prestige enjoyed by Spanish companies abroad, thanks to their renowned prestige in “carrying out large-scale projects, managing all phases of the construction process whilst meeting execution deadlines and guaranteeing the best results”. 

Proof of this is the fact that Spanish companies are participating in international joint ventures currently involved in large-scale projects. An example is the construction of a high-speed line between the cities of Mecca and Medina, the largest contract to be executed by Spain’s industry abroad, for a price of more than 6,700 million euros, whose 12-member joint venture also includes OHL. Furthermore, Alfonso Orantes has pointed out OHL’s interest in its eight home markets- USA and Canada, Mexico, Colombia, Peru, Chile, Spain and Central Europe-, where it is carrying out relevant infrastructure projects.

In turn and as part of the economic scenario Spain is currently in, the round table speakers have raised the need to promote public-private ventures. 

Alfonso Orantes has also referred to the inevitable digital transformation in which the engineering sector is currently immersed and which, in OHL’s case, as a pioneer in this field, has been taking place for more than two decades.

Between 22-28 May, the IV Week of Civil Engineering in Madrid will offer a full range of activities, to include a conference cycle and guided visits to emblematic buildings in the city, to include Torrespacio, OHL Group’s head office in Madrid. Furthermore, an open-air exhibition has been arranged, which will allow citizens and visitors to become familiar with some of the icons that have turned Spain’s engineering sector into an international leader. OHL is participating in the exhibition with Cubipod, a prefabricated mass concrete component, patented internationally and used to shelter port dock constructions and coastline barriers. This 45 t part is now located in Plaza de Legazpi, Madrid.

Alfonso Orantes, first on the right, at the opening act of the Engineering Week.