GED Africa won the "Client of the Year" award at the FIDIC 2025 International Gala, further confirming its leading role in world-class contractual and governance practices applied in African infrastructure development.
On December the 2nd 2025, London hosted the seventh FIDIC (International Federation of Consulting Engineers) Awards Gala. The purpose of this prestigious event is to shine a spotlight on projects, organizations, and professionals that demonstrate exemplary application of the FIDIC contractual framework in the implementation of complex infrastructure investments.
GED Africa: Setting the Benchmark in the African Infrastructure Environment
As the winner in the "Client of the Year" category, Duna Group's GED Africa project received recognition that clearly confirms the long-term, strategic approach of the megaproject. According to the jury's assessment, GED Africa, as an exemplary client, has contributed to ensuring that international best practices are not only guiding principles but also an integral part of everyday project implementation in African infrastructure development.
The jury particularly highlighted:
- the conscious, systematic embedding of FIDIC contracts and their spirit,
- the procurement philosophy that world-class infrastructure can only be achieved within a world-class contractual framework,
- the establishment of a collaborative, solution-oriented project culture among all parties involved.
This approach not only strengthened contractual clarity, but also contributed measurably to balanced risk management, efficient decision-making, and sustainable project implementation.
The Global Significance of the FIDIC Awards
The winners were selected by a jury chaired by international judge and arbitrator Sir Vivian Ramsey, which evaluated entries from around the world in five categories: Project of the Year, Client of the Year, Consultant of the Year, Educator of the Year, and Law Firm of the Year. In his video message, Sir Vivian Ramsey emphasized that FIDIC contracts serve to create fair, reasonable, and transparent conditions worldwide, which is why they enjoy the trust of leading clients and financiers, including multilateral development banks. The strength of the 2025 field clearly indicates that the awards have become a key event in the industry's global calendar.
Outstanding Projects and Professional Achievements
At the 2025 awards ceremony, the title of "Project of the Year" was won by the Gorno Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO) road construction project in Tajikistan, which establishes a critical transport link in an extremely complex geographical environment. The Julius Nyerere hydroelectric power plant project in Tanzania also received special praise.
Other award winners at the event included:
as well as several international experts and organisations whose work contributes to the global dissemination of FIDIC contractual culture.
Sustainability and Forward-Looking Thinking
During the gala, Adriana Spassova (EQE Control, Bulgaria) received special recognition for her role in developing the new FIDIC Carbon Management Guide. The guide provides a comprehensive framework for managing greenhouse gas emissions in construction projects, emphasizing the importance of active carbon management throughout the entire project lifecycle. Susanna Zammataro, CEO of FIDIC, emphasized that quality, sustainability and integrity are core values that are essential for creating a globally sustainable and competitive infrastructure in the long term.
GED Africa as a Strategic Compass
The award given to GED Africa sends a clear message to the international market: in African infrastructure development, a professional client attitude, transparent contractual structures and collaborative project management are not only expectations but also competitive advantages.
The title of "Client of the Year" is therefore not only a recognition, but also a strategic confirmation that the approach represented by GED Africa ensures long-term sustainable value creation –both in Africa and beyond.
About the GED Africa Project
One of the region's most valuable infrastructure developments is taking place in the heart of Africa with capital investment and professional management from the Duna Group. This GED Africa megaproject is the company's largest foreign investment. This PPP project is currently Africa's largest single private infrastructure investment from Europe, with Duna Aszfalt Zrt. as its professional and investment partner.
The road, known as the Ged Africa Route and KMTR (Kasomeno-Mwenda Toll Road), will connect Kasomeno in the southern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo with Mwenda in Zambia.
The investment involves the modernization, construction, and enlargement of a 184-kilometer highway. The new road will also cross a new 362-meter cable-stayed bridge and reduce the round trip for commercial transporters from the mining area in Haut-Katanga province to port Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, by approximately 500 kilometers.
This is the Duna Group's largest investment abroad, and the construction will be carried out by local and international contractors.
Source: https://www.fidic.org/node/46429
