<< Back to TALKS page

Monday, 3 September: 10.30 — 17.00

FORUM

WELCOME TO FIDIC 2001

Wayne Bowes
FIDIC President

Welcome to the Annual Conference of FIDIC in this beautiful city of Montreux. It is a great honour and privilege to be the President of FIDIC, and extend our official greetings and welcome to all of the delegates, distinguished guests, past presidents, speakers and others who share our common interests.

Personally, it is a fitting finale for me to be here in Montreux, Switzerland, the home of one of our distinguished past presidents and the gentleman who so early on impressed me and inspired me to work hard for FIDIC. Of course, the gentleman is Ernst Hoffman.

We have a great programme lined up for the next few days on a very important subject - sustainable development. To address this controversial and topical subject from our industry’s perspective, we are honoured to have a number of interesting and talented speakers. I’m sure you will all benefit from their observations and carry these thoughts in the following sections of the conference.

In many ways, FIDIC is at a crossroads now. There are many forces acting on our industry and challenging all of our firms. This is true in developed and developing economies. Many of these forces were recognized a few years ago when we prepared the report Engineering our Future. Indeed, globalization, environmental sustainability, integrity, project delivery systems, mergers, representativity of our industry all have materialized. Our future depends upon how we respond to the needs of our members and society and the pressures of the market place.

At the same time FIDIC will have a new team in place to face these challenges. We know that they will be up to the task. But they will have to be supported by the efforts of volunteers like you. One of the lingering good feelings I have will be the gratitude I and all of us owe to the efforts of the many unseen warriors who really make FIDIC tick and work as well as it does.

Thank you for your attention and your interest and now let me leave you with a challenge. FIDIC holds they key to the implementation of the many projects and programs that will be required to maintain and improve our well being on our planet Earth. Are we, as an industry, able to coordinate our efforts and partner with others and assume the role of a leader, an innovator and a guardian? I believe we can. Do you?

<< Back to TALKS page