ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the role that international engineering and construction firms — among others — play in transferring technology to macroprojects in the developing world. Contractors interested in participating in the macroproject arena need to determine what the host sponsors require of them, and what they can most competitively contribute. Sound cooperation is achieved when contractors: Identify the technological gaps, competitively provide the missing technology, ensure synergy in delivery of the technology and anticipate potential problem areas. The fertilizer industry is perhaps the most concentrated industry in terms of the small number of companies winning macroproject contracts. The real distinctions in technology transfer are between separate design and consultancy contracts which are then passed on to contractors, and the turnkey approach which includes design. The engineering/construction arena in the developing world is highly segmented and diversified, and requires highly sophistieated appraisal of technological gaps and potential pitfalls in delivery.
