Well designed and managed engineering projects provide a valuable platform and opportunity to contribute to economic development. This is especially the case in developing countries that lack infrastructure, industrial capacity and investment.
Goal 8 of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is to “promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all”. Engineering projects can provide jobs during the construction and operational phases, build supply chain networks and open up opportunities by integrating with the local communities and economy. Achieving this is challenging, and understanding the local socio-economic and ecological environment is very important during planning. One can choose to see no further than the obstacles or look past them and focus on the opportunities and the multiple benefits they create. The latter path, more difficult in the short term, provides more significant gains in the long term.