MHE-Demag Opens Southeast Asia’s Largest Crane Manufacturing Plant

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The Bukit Raja manufacturing facility is also a showcase of MHE-Demag’s innovative solutions.

The Bukit Raja manufacturing facility is also a showcase of MHE-Demag’s innovative solutions.

MHE-Demag, a joint venture between Terex MHPS GmbH and Jebsen & Jessen (SEA) Pte Ltd, has officially opened its largest manufacturing and warehouse facility in Bukit Raja, Malaysia. Developed at a cost of RM45 million, the facility can operate at a capacity of 200,000 production hours a year, a 54 percent increase from the previous site. The facility is also expected to support the fabricated metal products and machinery & equipment industries; two key areas that have been identified as drivers for the manufacturing sector to attain its projected growth of 5.1 percent per annum.

With a built-up area of close to 15,000 square metres sitting on over 26,000 square metres of land, the plant is also the largest and first-of-its kind crane manufacturing facility in Malaysia and the region. Capable of building cranes of up to 50-meter span, this plant will primarily serve customers from Malaysia, Australia, Cambodia, Myanmar and Singapore, who hail from various industrial sectors where lifting, moving and maintenance of materials or machineries are required.

Mr Karl Tilkorn, Regional Managing Director, MHE-Demag, said, “This investment cements MHE-Demag’s commitment to Malaysia over the past 40 years, and is an important step forward for us. This plant is the largest and most modern of our eleven manufacturing facilities across the Southeast Asian region. Each industrial crane needs to be individually designed and custom fabricated, hence the larger production facility along with state-of-the- art equipment will allow us to maintain our leadership position to meet the high standards required by our growing customer portfolio, particularly with the prestigious projects we have secured.”

The facility will also host MHE-Demag’s Regional Training Centre, where employees and customers throughout the Group will attend skills training and upgrading programmes to ensure excellence in operations, maintenance and safety for industrial cranes is maintained. The factory has also been built in reference to the Malaysian Green Building Index, incorporating the most environmentally friendly solutions.

Mr. Frankie Chan, Managing Director of MHE-Demag Malaysia said, “We have put a lot of focus on creating conducive work areas that have a low impact on the environment. This includes building for natural ventilation and employee well-being; from utilising translucent panels to allow for extensive natural light to investing in ergonomic workstations. Our Regional Director, Mr. Joergen Moeller, also personally managed the construction process of this manufacturing facility from design to final stage. I strongly believe the new factory will enhance employee comfort and increase their motivation, leading to greater customer satisfaction.”

. Leading MHE-Demag material handling products such as lift trucks, dock levellers, aerial work platforms, building maintenance systems for safe working at heights, as well as automated car parking systems are employed in industrial applications throughout this facility.

Easily accessible via the North Klang Valley Expressway, Federal Highway, the New North Klang Straits Bypass and the new proposed Coastal Highway, the Bukit Raja manufacturing facility also connect to major ports such as Port Klang, Northport and West Port within 30 minutes.

Besides Bukit Raja, MHE-Demag has another manufacturing facility at Simpang Renggam, Johor, and twelve sales & service offices within Malaysia. In addition, a service depot is also established in KLCC.

New Technology Venture Launched to Facilitate Green Building Projects

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Arc allows any project to measure improvements and benchmark against itself and projects around it.

Arc allows any project to measure improvements and benchmark against itself and projects around it.

A new technology company, Arc Skoru Inc., was officially launched today by Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI). This new venture will be the official host for Arc, a state-of-the-art digital platform available at arcskoru.com.

Arc allows any project – whether a single building, a community or an entire city – to measure improvements and benchmark against itself and projects around it. Scot Horst, who has overseen and led the development of LEED since 2005, has been appointed as the CEO of Arc.

“GBCI developed Arc as a way to provide new and more transparent ways to share information,” said Mahesh Ramanujam, president and CEO, U.S. Green Building Council and GBCI. “Scot Horst brings many years of leadership and expertise to Arc, and we celebrate him in his new role as the CEO. For the past 11 years, Scot has led the evolution of LEED through LEED 2009 and LEED v4. He was also the chief inventor of the LEED Dynamic Plaque, a system designed to tie ongoing building performance to initial certification.”

The goal of Arc is to support the missions of USGBC and GBCI. LEED-certified buildings can use Arc to improve and benchmark against other certified buildings around them. Existing buildings that have not certified can use Arc to make incremental sustainability improvements to eventually achieve LEED certification.

“Arc allows buildings, communities and cities to compare their performance against their peers and also connect to vetted green building strategies,” said Scot Horst, CEO, Arc. “Over the last two decades LEED certification has become a symbol of leadership, signifying that a project is saving energy, resources and water, and is healthier for occupants and the community. A LEED building has become the mark of a high quality building. Now through the Arc platform, all buildings can improve and work toward LEED certification.”

Today more than ever before, the green building movement relies on technology and data, and the future of green buildings is focused on performance. Arc represents a new era for green building; the platform takes LEED to the next level through the shared use of technology, feedback and recognition of excellence.

About the Arc platform:

  • Arc is a simple digital platform for all projects pursuing LEED certification and will eventually include other green building rating systems, standards protocols and guidelines.
  • Arc is inclusive of all projects, even those not pursuing certification, so that all buildings can measure performance and make incremental improvements.
  • Arc facilitates connections to people and projects globally. It encourages innovation, enabling informed decisions on building design, operations and maintenance.

Features of the current Arc platform include:

  • Existing buildings can use Arc to earn LEED Operations + Maintenance certification and precertification using the O+M performance path.
  • Projects that are currently pursuing and planning to register for the LEED for Existing Buildings standard path can also use Arc for performance data reporting.
  • Cities, communities and districts can use Arc to start tracking data and earn LEED pre-certification.
  • All registered and previously certified LEED projects have access to Arc to keep their LEED certification up to date. Project leads can also use Arc for performance data tracking and reporting as per the initial requirements in LEED for data sharing. Projects previously using the LEED Dynamic Plaque will be included in Arc.

The O+M performance path was approved by the LEED Steering Committee in January 2016 and the LEED for Cities Pilot was approved by the LEED steering committee in October 2016. LEED for Cities will be submitted for USGBC member approval following input from pilot users.

Over time, Arc will continue to add rating systems into the platform. The platform provides an entry point for all buildings with the goal of eventually certifying them to LEED or to other GBCI rating systems such as GRESB, WELL, PEER, SITES, Parksmart, etc. As GBCI adds new rating systems, the introduction of Arc makes the certification process as streamlined as possible for the end user. Projects pursuing certification under more than one rating system will realize efficiencies in places where the rating systems share the same or similar requirements.

Johnson Controls Releases Metasys® 8.0

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Metasys® 8.0 comes with additional IT features to increase productivity, reduce energy costs and enhance security.

Metasys® 8.0 comes with additional IT features to increase productivity, reduce energy costs and enhance security.

Johnson Controls recently introduced Metasys® 8.0 with new system configurations, programming capabilities, and additional Information Technology (IT) features to increase productivity, reduce energy costs and enhance security. This is one of the first building automation systems (BAS) in the industry to be optimised for any mobile device.

This latest advancement in BAS improves ease of use, speeds up troubleshooting, shortens time on task, reduces risk, and supports easier integrations. Metasys 8.0 key enhancements include:

  • Intuitive graphics optimised for multiple mobile devices
  • Alarm management enabling alarm prioritisation (the features roll up to the tasks)
  • Improved scheduling and customised trend viewing
  • New reporting features making it easier to access trends, alarms, audits and scheduling data
  • Space authorisation, which allows users to access the system and see only the data they need
  • Added IT security with secure password management and dormant user account reporting

“The improvements are the result of over 1,000 hours of observational research with building owners and operators. Facility operators can now identify and correct problems more quickly with this new intuitive interface, as information is displayed according to the way they work. Now, the potential problem areas view provides a single interactive report to see all alarms, system overrides and offlines as well as other critical equipment information in chronological order,” said Derrick Kho, director of product and channels for controls, Building Efficiency Asia, Johnson Controls.

Metasys 8.0 builds on Metasys’ ability to maximise building owners’ investments through flexibility and scalability. The system preserves and enhances previous investments in building infrastructure, and its technology and is scalable for facilities of any size and complexity. It enables integration to a wide variety of mechanical and electrical systems, and allows for a progressive replacement of existing field controllers that are becoming obsolete.

Click HERE to learn more or click HERE to take a tour of Metasys 8.0.

Paya Lebar Quarter Urban Regeneration Project by Lendlease Set to Transform Paya Lebar

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Artist's impression of Paya Lebar Quarter. Image courtesy of www.payalebarquarter.com

Artist’s impression of Paya Lebar Quarter. Image courtesy of www.payalebarquarter.com

Lendlease, an international property solutions provider with over 40 years’ experience in Singapore, recently unveiled Paya Lebar Quarter, an urban regeneration mixed- use development bringing together progressive workplaces, dining, shopping and generous green public spaces. The project is set to catalyse the area’s regeneration into a bustling, pedestrian- friendly new city precinct while retaining its cultural richness.

 

Expected to be completed in phases with retail and commercial in H2 2018 and residential in H1, 2019, Paya Lebar Quarter will be a significant landmark of Urban Redevelopment Authority’s (URA) 12-hectare Paya Lebar Central, the most centrally located regional commercial hub in Singapore.

 

Located just 10 minutes from the CBD by car or train, the 3.9 hectare Paya Lebar Quarter development enjoys excellent connectivity with direct connections to the Paya Lebar MRT interchange. Aligned with Singapore’s vision to be a car-lite city, Paya Lebar Quarter is one of the first developments to incorporate a cycling path within the precinct that facilitates a continuous connection to the wider Park Connector Network. Office occupants will also have access to end-of- trip-facilities, making active commuting to work, such as cycling, a reality.

 

“Urban regeneration is a key pillar of Lendlease’s strategy and it comprises over 70 percent of Lendlease’s S$49.3 billion international development pipeline. With its central location, Paya Lebar Quarter will lead the way in regenerating the area and will turn it into a vibrant hub offering a new and dynamic city life,” said Mr Richard Paine, Managing Director of Paya Lebar Quarter.

 

The Paya Lebar Quarter architecture responds to the area’s heritage with inspiration drawn from the intricate weaving patterns of the Songket, a traditional brocade textile of the Malay culture; the design language and gold-and-silver colour palette for the façade seek to unify the buildings and public areas to seamlessly weave the seven buildings into a single tapestry.

 

From the start of the planning for Paya Lebar Quarter, Lendlease has been closely engaged with community stakeholders, ensuring that its design enables social inclusivity and builds community heartware, an increasingly important consideration as cities urbanise.

 

One of the signature features of Paya Lebar Quarter is the generous provision of 100,000 square feet of green public spaces (the size of more than 20 basketball courts). These public spaces will be where the community can bond and build a network of relationships through spontaneous interactions, collective celebrations and new friendships among those who live, work and play at Paya Lebar Quarter. There will be a covered outdoor event space, which will also help enhance a strong community spirit and culture by hosting large scale celebratory, festive and community events.

One of the signature features of Paya Lebar Quarter is the generous provision of 100,000 square feet of green public spaces. Image courtesy of www.payalebarquarter.com

One of the signature features of Paya Lebar Quarter is the generous provision of 100,000 square feet of green public spaces. Image courtesy of www.payalebarquarter.com

 

“We are glad that the distinctive cultural heritage and community spirit of this area is reflected in Paya Lebar Quarter,” said Prof Fatimah Lateef, Member of Parliament (MP) for Marine Parade Group Representation Constituency (GRC) for the ward of Geylang Serai. She added, “The development complements and adds to the revitalisation of the precinct as well as the dynamism of the area. It will complement the adjacent development of Wisma Geylang Serai, due for completion in 2018. This area will be a new place for the community to hangout and to own. It is befitting as a location in the Geylang-Paya Lebar sub-regional centre.”

Progressive and Creative Place-making
Paya Lebar Quarter will serve a working population of 22,000 in the local catchment area within 7 minutes’ walk and approximately one million residents in the trade area. When the wider Paya Lebar Central precinct is fully developed, Paya Lebar Quarter is expected to have 52,000* workers in its immediate catchment.

Mall:
The Paya Lebar Quarter mall will be the social heart of a vibrant Paya Lebar retail precinct, with over 200 retail shops offering a multitude of exciting indoor and parkside dining, lifestyle and fashion options for residents, office executives and shoppers. NTUC FairPrice Finest and Kopitiam are the first two anchor tenants to sign up at Paya Lebar Quarter mall, taking over 22,000 sq ft and 15,000 sq ft of space respectively.

Workplace:
Three Grade A office towers with close to one million square feet of high quality work space will be within the development. These offices are designed for businesses that embrace a progressive work culture that promotes collaboration, health and wellbeing, flexibility and productivity.

Residences:
Park Place Residences at Paya Lebar Quarter comprises three towers with 429 units that offer residents a private sanctuary in a vibrant and centrally located city precinct. Residents can enjoy a connected city lifestyle with easy access to a myriad of amenities, activities and green public spaces.

Building a Green, Active, Engaged Precinct
Paya Lebar Quarter’s sustainability vision focuses on building an Active, Green and Engaged environment for people who live, work and play there. The development is on track towards being the first development to achieve the BCA Green Mark 2015 Platinum rating. In addition, the project has also incorporated evidence-based design strategies across the precinct to enhance occupant health and wellbeing.

“Lendlease has always had a reputation as a sustainability leader. In FY15, we have received 69 awards recognizing our global environmental and social leadership,” said Mr Paine.

For more information, visuals and a preview of how Paya Lebar Quarter will lead the transformation of Paya Lebar into a dynamic business and lifestyle hub, please visit www.payalebarquarter.com.

Xylem Acquires Singapore-based Smart Water Analytics Company Visenti

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Visenti’s technologies include real-time leak detection, identification of pipe network assets at risk of failure, operational simulations, meter data analytics and water quality monitoring.

Visenti’s technologies include real-time leak detection, identification of pipe network assets at risk of failure, operational simulations, meter data analytics and water quality monitoring.

Xylem Inc., a global water technology leader, announced in early November 2016 that it has acquired Visenti Pte Ltd, a Singapore-based smart water analytics company that provides a suite of advanced products and services to enable smart management of water networks.

Visenti was launched out of the SMART research program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and is focused on supporting water utilities in monitoring their infrastructure and optimising their operations through advanced analytics. Its solutions portfolio is highly complementary to Xylem’s offerings, and targets the growing challenge of non-revenue water loss – treated drinking water that is lost due to leaks, theft or other causes.

Visenti’s technologies include real-time leak detection, identification of pipe network assets at risk of failure, operational simulations, meter data analytics and water quality monitoring. Visenti effectively integrates advanced software and hardware to enable water utilities to reduce energy and water wastage in real-time without compromising water quality and hydraulic standards.

Xylem and Visenti entered into a strategic partnership in 2012 to develop smart optimisation of water networks by utilising energy-efficient technology and smart sensing platforms for large-scale deployment projects in Singapore and Hong Kong.

“With Visenti, we have acquired a strategically valuable asset to strengthen Xylem’s offering in systems intelligence solutions, focusing on non-revenue water. Together, we will be able to help customers around the world solve one of their most significant and costly water challenges,” said Steve Leung, Senior Vice President and President, Emerging Markets, Xylem Inc. Visenti was founded in 2011 and has 30 employees.

USG Boral Bags Three Prestigious Awards at the 2016 Global Gypsum Awards

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The USG Boral team receiving the Global Gypsum Awards in Bangkok. From L-R: Christophe Blanc (Product and Systems Development Director), Regis Humbert (Regional Manufacturing Director), Patrick Desmond (Vice President, Intellectual Property), Cesar Chan (Technology Program Director, R&D), Ivan Kovarik (General Manager, Thailand), Nimitr Damkham (Saraburi Plant Manager), David Song (Vice President, Plasterboard Category).

The USG Boral team receiving the Global Gypsum Awards in Bangkok. From L-R: Christophe Blanc (Product and Systems Development Director), Regis Humbert (Regional Manufacturing Director), Patrick Desmond (Vice President, Intellectual Property), Cesar Chan (Technology Program Director, R&D), Ivan Kovarik (General Manager, Thailand), Nimitr Damkham (Saraburi Plant Manager), David Song (Vice President, Plasterboard Category).

Leading building materials supplier USG Boral was awarded three prominent industry awards at the 16th Annual Global Gypsum Conference and Exhibition, held in Bangkok, Thailand, from October 25-26, 2016. The Global Gypsum Conference is the largest and most established event in the gypsum industry. Since 2006, the Global Gypsum association presents several awards annually to recognise outstanding companies and products within the gypsum industry.

This year, USG Boral was nominated in three different categories, including two nominations within the ‘Global Gypsum Plant of the Year’ category. A judging panel as well as public votes award winners in each category. The three awards won were:

Global Gypsum Company of the Year, USG Boral
Open to plaster and wallboard companies worldwide, USG Boral emerged victorious under the stringent judging criteria including management strategy, employee relations, customer and supplier relations, environmental performance, safety record, manufacturing excellence, productivity, use of technology and market results.

Global Gypsum Plant of the Year, USG Boral – Saraburi, Thailand
Judged based on plant safety, productivity, innovation, quality consistency and environmental performance, the USG Boral Saraburi plant in Thailand topped the cohort among the hundreds of gypsum-wallboard plants across the globe.

Global Gypsum Product of the Year, USG Boral SHEETROCK® Plasterboard
With an enhanced lightweight core structure that allows for light and easy installation, the USG Boral SHEETROCK® Plasterboard is recognised as the leading product in innovation, quality and effectiveness of product, as well as the fit to market need.

Frederic De Rougemont, Chief Executive Officer of USG Boral, said, “We are tremendously delighted to be recognised for our work across Asia, Australia and the Middle East through the prestigious Global Gypsum Awards. This is an accomplishment that is ought to be shared with our stakeholders, employees and partners who unwaveringly stood by our core values of safety, integrity, innovation, excellence and collaboration. It is our commitment to continue developing solutions for walls and ceilings that contribute to safe and healthy buildings.”

“The awards are a great recognition of our efforts over the years to create an elite plasterboard operation. We are proud to have such a professional and dedicated team at Saraburi,” said Joe Holmes, Chief Operation Officer of USG Boral.

SilverNeedle Collection Unveils New Boutique Riverside Hotel

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The Riva Arun, Bangkok.

The Riva Arun, Bangkok.

SilverNeedle Hospitality recently welcomed the iconic Riva Arun Bangkok hotel to its boutique collection of luxury handpicked properties ‘The SilverNeedle Collection’.

Riva Arun, uniquely positioned on the Chao Phraya river, is located in Bangkok’s preserved Rattankosin Island, the historic heart of the city. Nestled in a captivating neighbourhood of traditional houses, shops and warehouses, tastefully converted into stylish guesthouses, cafes and galleries, the architecture and interior design of Riva Arun Hotel reflect influences of “Chino Colonial” culture with a contemporary twist – displayed throughout the property in the carved wooden interiors and ornate ironwork.

Surrounded by some of Bangkok’s most treasured sites; Wat Pho, the temple of the reclining Buddha, Wat Arun, temple of dawn, the Museum of Siam and the Grand Palace, Riva Arun offers the the city’s most sought-after river views. The 25 guest rooms range in size from comfortable studios to expansive Jacuzzi suites – each with panoramic views of either the Chao Phraya River or old city.

The rooftop restaurant Above Riva serves a superb Thai menu – an infusion of local flavours, market fresh ingredients and a variety of creative influences handpicked from across the globe, against a backdrop of stunning scenes of Thai history and culture. Waterside dining is also offered at the soon to launch Riva Café – a stunning private pier, café and open-air bar serving cocktails into the evening.

Above the Riva Arun Bar in Bangkok.

Above the Riva Arun Bar in Bangkok.

A boat connects the new Riva Arun to it’s sister neighbouring property, Riva Surya. Also a SilverNeedle Collection hotel, Riva Surya boasts 68 beautifully designed rooms, adding a touch of style and charm to the once dubbed ‘Venice of the East’. The hotel has elegant dining options, a riverside swimming pool and multiple leisure facilities, all of which are accessible and exclusively available for guests of Riva Arun.

Francis Zimmerman, Managing Director of SilverNeedle Hospitality, SouthEast Asia, says: ‘Thailand is a primary growth country for SilverNeedle Hospitality and Bangkok is a continuously growing destination for international tourists. We’re delighted to apply the SilverNeedle management expertise to Riva Arun and welcome guests to this one-of-a-kind property – Riva Arun offers business and leisure travellers a unique, refined and authentic Thai experience.’

Opening offer: Riva Arun rooms and suites start at $75USD a night. Learn more by clicking HERE.

Joint Venture Between BPE Asia Real Estate and National Properties Sees Construction of Seven Luxury Properties

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The houses will have an exclusive access road and impressive unobstructed panoramic sea views.

The houses will have an exclusive access road and impressive unobstructed panoramic sea views.

BPE Asia Real Estate (“BPE Asia”) and National Properties, a subsidiary of National Electronics Holdings Limited (HKSE Stock Code: 213) announced recently a joint venture for the construction of luxury detached houses in Tai Tam, the Island South District of Hong Kong.

Mark Fogle, Managing Director & Head of Real Estate for BPE Asia said, “Along with my partners Charles Lam and Malcolm Lai, we have previously completed two projects with National Properties (110 Repulse Bay Road and 56 Peak Road), which were very successful developments. Hong Kong is one of the most robust financial centres in the world and there remains strong demand for luxury housing against a background of limited new supply. In our view, National Properties has created some of the highest quality landmarks on Hong Kong Island and we are honoured to be partnering once again.”

The proposed development includes seven luxury detached houses located on a site of approximately 32,390 square feet (3,009 square metres) each to be constructed with an elegant classic design including basement carports, private infinity pool and internal elevator. The property is located in the prestigious Tai Tam area in close proximity to the beach, the American Club and the Hong Kong International School.

Loewe Lee, Managing Director of National Electronics Holdings Limited said, “The Tai Tam project exemplifies the hallmark characteristics of National Properties’ developments including spectacular views, exceptional design, a superior level of refinement and an elegant living environment. We are very pleased to once again be partnering with members of the BPE Asia team in this initiative.”

Site formation and foundation works for the project have been completed and the construction of superstructure works is ongoing. Completion of the first show house is expected in 18 months’ time (mid 2017).

Charles Lam, Managing Director of BPE Asia said, “The Hong Kong residential property market is unlike any other gateway city in Asia. Hong Kong has a population of approximately 7.5 million people of which approximately 1.4 million live on Hong Kong Island, yet there are less than 750 single family detached or semi-detached houses located within developments of eight homes or less. Furthermore, we estimate that there is an average supply of just 15 such houses coming to the market per annum over each of the next three years.”

Keppel Land China to Acquire Retail Mall in Shanghai

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A view of Shanghai.

A view of Shanghai.

Keppel Land China Limited (Keppel Land China) will acquire a newly completed retail development in Jiading District, Shanghai, China, for a total consideration of RMB 500 million (approximately S$102 million).

The retail development has a gross floor area of 40,927 sm and a net lettable area of approximately 32,800 sm. It is part of a mixed-use development comprising offices, shops and residential towers. Keppel Land Retail Management, whose senior management staff has a strong track record of developing and managing numerous successful large shopping malls in Singapore, will be appointed manager.

Mr Ang Wee Gee, CEO of Keppel Land, said, “The acquisition is part of Keppel Land’s strategy to seize opportunities in key Chinese cities such as Shanghai. We will leverage our expertise, network and retail management capabilities to enhance the value offerings to this community mall in the upcoming Jiading New City Core Area, where several new residential and commercial projects are coming up.

“The acquisition, coming closely after the divestment of Life Hub @ Jinqiao, is also in line with the Keppel Land’s strategy of recycling capital to seek the highest returns.”

The retail mall is located within the Jiading New City Core Area and is directly linked to the Malu Bus terminal and the Malu Station of MRT Line 11 which connect to many residential districts in the North West region of Shanghai. The mall is easily accessible via several highways, including the Huxiang, Hujia and Jiamin Highways.

The abovementioned acquisition is expected to be completed by 1Q 2017. The transaction is not expected to have any material impact on the earnings per share and net tangible asset per share of Keppel Corporation Limited for the current financial year.

Education Plays a Big Role in Konstruksi Indonesia

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The construction sector is forecast to grow by 8.1 percent in 2017.

The construction sector is forecast to grow by 8.1 percent in 2017.

The Indonesian government’s focus on accelerating infrastructure development in all parts of Indonesia, as declared by President Joko Widodo, has pushed growth of the construction sector.

According to the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas), as government and private sector infrastructure projects escalate, the construction sector is forecast to grow by 8.1 percent in 2017. This condition is expected to boost investment that will drive growth in related industries, create jobs and absorb labour.

One of the major impacts of the construction sector growth is the increasing demand for construction service companies and its workers. The Director General of Construction Development at the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing (PWPH), Yusid Toyib stated, “Indonesia is facing a significant challenge in developing the construction service businesses and providing skilled construction workers. Especially after the establishment of the ASEAN Economic Community, the local construction service companies and their workers should be able to compete at providing high-quality work, both in Indonesia and abroad.”

Data from the Central Bureau of Statistics shows that, in the first quarter of 2015, the construction sector absorbed only 7.72 million people compared to the industrial sector (16.38 million people), trade (26.65 million people) or the agricultural sector (40.12 million people). The low absorption of people by the construction sector was caused by the unavailability of competent workers. Furthermore, first quarter 2016 data from the National Construction Service and Development Board (LPJKN) indicated that the number of certified construction workers was only 500,566 people.

“The improvement of companies’ managerial capacity and workers’ skills in the construction sector is our particular concern. We have been working together with various professional associations and institutions related to the construction sector to improve the managerial competency and technical expertise of construction workers. In addition to that, we also encourage them to keep participating in skills training and certification programme in order to be able to compete with workers from other countries,” explained Yusid.

Yusid also mentioned that the Ministry of PWPH continues to promote Regulation No. 45/PRT/M/2015 on Continuing Professional Development (CPD) that calls for all construction workers to develop their expertise and professional attitude on national and international scale. This regulation was issued to anticipate the implementation of the ASEAN Economic Community this year.

As the host of Konstruksi Indonesia in 2016, which this year will be co-located with The Big 5 Construct Indonesia 2016, the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing expects companies from the construction industry to leverage these two events to get valuable insights on new equipment and best practices in the construction sector. Hundreds of local and international exhibitors will bring to Indonesia the most innovative and never-seen-before products for the built environment at The Big 5 Construct Indonesia 2016. Organised by dmg events Middle East, Asia & Africa, the event also provides an extensive educational programme. Construction professionals will be able to attend for free, dozens of CPD Workshops delivered by industry experts, including topics such as Project Management, BIM, LEED and a day of workshops dedicated to sustainable topics on 11 November.

“The Big 5 Construct Indonesia 2016 is tailored specifically to meet the needs of the local construction sector. Not only we will bring the best and latest products for the built environment from global manufacturers: the event will host a series of free-to-attend, practical workshops providing industry trends, tools, applications and techniques for the construction and infrastructure sectors in Indonesia,” said Ashley Roberts, Event Director, dmg events.

Konstruksi Indonesia and The Big 5 Construct Indonesia 2016will be held in conjunction with Indonesia Infrastructure Week 2016 from 9 November to11 November at the Jakarta Convention Centre. The exhibition will present around600exhibitors from more than20 countries, as well as bring together stakeholders from central and local governments and the private sector.

Further information about participating and visiting this event can be obtained through www.indonesiainfrastructureweek.com. You can also register yourself as visitor throughhttps://registration.n200.com/survey/39r5vmqwo41a2.

Sources:
1) http://www.bappenas.go.id/id/berita-dan-siaran-pers/siaran-persmencapai-pertumbuhan-ekonomi-53-serta-pengurangan-tpt-53-56-dan-tingkat-kemiskinan-95-105-pada-2017/

2) http://br-online.co/tenaga-kerja-konstruksi-dan-pembangunan-infrastruktur-di-indonesia/

3) Lembaga Pengembangan Jakas Konstruksi Nasional: Potret Tenaga Kerja Konstruksi Indonesia 2016