Lambert Koty

Mr. Koty served as a Minister of Public Works and Transport in the Government of Benin between 2011 and 2013. He has been illustrated as a builder, very involved in Benin’s development issues and in the West African sub region. In May 2002, when AGETUR Association became a limited company, two Prelates successively assumed the presidency of the Board of Directors, as Mr. Koty remained Managing Director. After, Mr. Koty was unanimously appointed as the new president of the Board of the Company. Starting from 1990 when the Executing Agency of Urban Works (AGETUR) was created Mr. Koty has contributed to the improvement of the urban landscape of Benin. Given his skills and experiences, he was repeatedly invited as resource person and expert for the restructuring of several Urban works Agencies in Africa. That led him to gain the presidency of the African Association of Public Works Agencies (AFRICATIP) from 2013 till today.

H.E LAMBERT KOTY, President and CEO of Agetur and Former Minister of Public Works and Transport in Benin, discussed the contribution of the private sector in developing the infrastructure in Africa. He talked about the aftermath of the economic crisis of the 80s in Africa where a number of innovative development tools have emerged. The first Executing Agencies of Public Interest Works (AGETIPs) were established with the support of the States and financial partners, including the World Bank.

The main goal of the agencies, said H.E. Koty, “was to achieve development projects in ways favoring the intensive use of labor and to generate more economic and social value.” He drew his speech to a close by listing the objectives of these agencies. These objectives were to promote the ethical principles of delegated project as outlined in the agencies procedure manual, to promote a synergy of different experiences of public works agencies; particularly in terms of “best practices”, to enable emulation among members, to allow meetings between executives of different members of the Association, to encourage a better exchange of experience in various forms between members in all fields, and lastly, to expand the network of implementing agencies in the continent.