Technical and Industry Stakeholder Engagement forum

-Agrement South Africa Hosts Technical Industry and Stakeholder Engagement Forum at UCT
Cape Town, 26 June 2025 — Agrement South Africa (ASA) hosted its Technical Industry and
Stakeholder Engagement Forum at the University of Cape Town (UCT) under the theme:
“Advancing Certification of Non-Standardised Products: Driving Innovation for a Sustainable Built
Environment.”
The forum brought together key players across the built environment, innovation, academic, and
regulatory sectors to engage on issues central to the certification of innovative and non-standardised
construction products and systems.
In his opening remarks, Mr Richard Somanje, CEO of Agrement South Africa, highlighted the strategic
importance of stakeholder collaboration in ensuring that certified, fit-for-purpose technologies are
implemented to address infrastructure needs. “This forum provides a vital platform to exchange
insights and work towards harmonised solutions that accelerate the uptake of innovative
technologies,” he said.
The day’s programme featured in-depth technical presentations by ASA’s certification and assessment
teams, who unpacked the organisation’s role in the evaluation of alternative building technologies
(ABTs), quality management system assessments, and the alignment of ASA processes with national
building regulations and sustainability targets.
Key discussions included:
• Enhancing transparency and efficiency in the certification process
• Bridging the gap between innovation and compliance
• The role of public sector procurement in promoting ASA-certified products
• Lessons learned from implementation of certified systems in public infrastructure projects
ASA used the platform to reinforce its ongoing review of internal frameworks, aligned with emerging
industry demands and global best practices, and to encourage continuous dialogue among
stakeholders.
The organisation expressed gratitude to all attendees, technical contributors, and the University of
Cape Town for hosting this critical engagement aimed at shaping a more inclusive, responsive, and
innovative built environment sector.