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.

Buildtech Yangon 2016 Meets Needs of Myanmar’s Building and Construction Sector

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BuildTech Yangon is the leading trade show of its kind.

BuildTech Yangon is the leading trade show of its kind.

The third edition of BuildTech Yangon concluded on May 28, 2016 after three days of trade discussions, commercial engagements and extensive knowledge sharing among some 3,000 trade visitors and business professionals from the region. Organised by Sphere Exhibits, a subsidiary of Singapore Press Holdings (SPH), and co-organised by the Myanmar Construction Entrepreneurs Association (MCEA), BuildTech Yangon is the leading trade show of its kind focusing on the entire value chain for the built environment sector.

H.E Zae Aye Maung, Minister for Rakhine Affairs Ministry and Labour Affairs, Immigration and Manpower Ministry, Government of Yangon Region, graced the opening ceremony of the trade show. Designed specifically to meet the needs of the burgeoning building and construction industry in Myanmar, BuildTech Yangon 2016 saw the signing of a memorandum of understanding between MCEA’s Mandalay Chapter and Sphere Exhibits to co-organise the inaugural staging of BuildTech Mandalay later this year. This extended collaboration further reinforces a stronger alliance between the two organisations in their efforts to extend the knowledge building and trade opportunities to industry professionals in Myanmar.

Positive response for integrated show and skills upgrading platform
The show hosted some 80 exhibiting companies from Austria, China, Indonesia, Korea, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, each of which offered a range of products, services and solutions for four key areas: Onsite construction machinery and equipment, building materials and architectural solutions, interior finishing and facilities management.

Visitors were able to check out various products and cutting edge technology put on display.

Visitors were able to check out various products and cutting edge technology put on display.

Industry professionals who visited the show included architects, developers, building and trade agency representatives, investors, manufacturers of machine and building, retailers, security, state-owned company owners, surveyors, trainers and wholesalers.

Ms. Nicole Zycinski Singh, General Manager of Killem Pest Pte Ltd, said: “We are very happy with our experience exhibiting at this year’s BuildTech Yangon. The organisers have done a fantastic job in coming up with a focused event and in attracting quality visitors. For a homegrown company with little experience in the Indochina market, we have received very good responses from potential buyers, several of whom have already enquired about our services. We will definitely consider returning for the next edition of BuildTech Yangon.”

The complimentary Business Seminar Series, which took place from May 26 to 28, 2016 focused on the following topics:

  • Construction safety
  • Working at heights
  • Fire safety and disaster management
  • Sustainability
  • Energy efficiency in green buildings
  • Security and town planning
  • Special economic zones
  • The investment outlook in Myanmar
  • Construction law
  • Sustainable and responsible urban design and building management
  • Infrastructure management

Young Construction Entrepreneurs Award
BuildTech Yangon also played host to MCEA’s Golden 20 Jubilee Gala, which hosted 250 guests on May 26, 2016. Three of Myanmar’s young construction entrepreneurs were presented with Diamond, Platinum and Silver awards under two categories: Professionals under 10 Years and Professionals Above 10 Years for successfully incorporating the latest construction technologies into various stages of the supply chain.

The show welcomed 3,000 trade visitors and business professionals from the region.

The show welcomed 3,000 trade visitors and business professionals from the region.

BuildTech Yangon 2016 was supported by the International Facilities Management Association (Singapore Chapter), International Powered Access Federation, Malaysia Heavy Construction Equipment Owners Association, Myanmar Engineering Council, Myanmar Engineering Society, Myanmar Industries Association, Singapore Institute of Building Limited, Vietnam Electronics Industry Association, Vietnam Federation of Civil Engineering Association, World Evergreen Travel & Tours and WSH (Asia).

Mr. U Tha Htay, President of Myanmar Construction Entrepreneurs Association (MCEA), said, “We are happy to receive good feedback from both exhibitors and trade visitors. The third edition of BuildTech Yangon delivered a more focused event that was very well received by the attendees. Its newly revamped platform for the industry, consisting of an extensive product showcase, fruitful networking sessions and specialised seminar programmes, successfully catered to the needs of Myanmar’s industry progression in providing right balance for the progression of the building and construction sector in Myanmar.”

The fourth edition of BuildTech Yangon will take place in May 2017. For more information, visit www.btyangon.com/en.

BEI Asia Awards Held Successfully for Third Consecutive Year

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Winners of the BEI Asia Awards 2015/16. Image courtesy of www.facebook.com/BEIasiaAwards

Winners of the BEI Asia Awards 2015/16. Image courtesy of www.facebook.com/BEIasiaAwards

The prestigious Built Environment Industry (BEI) Asia Awards 2015/16 Awards Ceremony and Gala dinner took place on May 19 2016 at ONE°15 Marina Club, a premier marina and lifestyle club nestled within Sentosa Cove.

Organised by PTL Group, the BEI Asia Awards was first launched in 2013 to recognise, reward, and honour the achievements of leading enterprises across Singapore’s Built Environment Industry. The event was graced by  Guest of Honour, Mr. Lui Tuck Yew, Former Minister for Transport and Second Minister for Defence, and was attended by over 300 guests – some of whom had flown in from overseas to witness and celebrate the triumphs of the well-deserving winners.

BEI Asia Award 2016 now spans across the globe with 25 award winners from Australia, Japan, the United Kingdom, Malaysia and Singapore. A combined turnover in excess of SGD$16 billion were honoured for the enterprises’ proactive contributions to the Built Environment Industry with a focus on Green initiatives, innovation and sustainability.

BEI Asia Award 2016 also saw the introduction of the “The Environmental Conservation Award”, which recognises the corporation’s efforts to create a voice for the conservation and preservation of our habitat and natural resources. Moreover, the rebranding of the Asia Green Building Award to Asia Green Business Award highlights the outstanding achievements of the local and regional companies within this sector who are at the forefront of promoting sustainability efforts in their businesses.

id212 Pte Ltd has won at the BEI Asia Awards three consecutive years in a row. Image courtesy of www.facebook.com/BEIasiaAwards

id212 Pte Ltd has won at the BEI Asia Awards three consecutive years in a row. Image courtesy of www.facebook.com/BEIasiaAwards

Mr. Fong Kwok Shiung, Chairman of the Awards Organising Committee, stated in his welcoming speech, “They have successfully turned their green initiatives into innovative product and service offerings, which provide environmentally friendly and sustainable methods or solutions to help reduce our carbon footprint, recycle and recover from material scrapes and reusing them so as to minimise the waste they emit on a per project basis.”

Nominees of the BEI Asia awards were required to submit a comprehensive submission kit and undergo a face-to-face interview with an independent panel of judges. Looking beyond the impressive financial growth and business model of each entry, the judges looked for organisations that have been adopting best business practices when conducting their businesses.

Led by Chief Judge, Professor Willie Tan, Head of the Department of Building at the National University of Singapore, said, “For us (judges), we not only look at their business model, strategy and vision, but also how the company looks after its own internal stakeholders and how they contribute back to society and care for the environment.”

For a full list of winners, visit the BEI Asia Awards page.

Medellín, Colombia Conferred Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize 2016

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The Metro Cable moving over Medellín.

The Metro Cable moving over Medellín.

The Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize 2016 is conferred on Medellín, the second largest city in Colombia after the capital city of Bogota. The biennial Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize is jointly organised by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) and the Centre for Liveable Cities, to honour outstanding achievements and contributions to the creation of liveable, vibrant and sustainable urban communities around the world.

The award seeks to recognise and celebrate efforts in furthering innovation in urban solutions and sustainable urban development. This year’s Prize Laureate was selected from 38 nominated cities, following a rigorous two-tier selection process comprising a Nominating Committee and a Prize Council.

Chairman of the Nominating Committee, Kishore Mahbubani said, “Medellín’s transformation has been extraordinary. It has gone from being one of the world’s most dangerous cities into a liveable and innovative city. Its success gives hope to many cities in developing countries, where the next wave of massive urbanisation will take place. Medellín can become a Mecca of learning for them. We are therefore proud to award the Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize to Medellín.”

A festival taking place at UVA The Dreams - Barrio Versalles: an example of using underutilised spaces for community activities

A festival taking place at UVA The Dreams – Barrio Versalles: an example of using underutilised spaces for community activities

The key to Medellín’s transformation is bold and visionary leadership, as well as social and urban innovation. The elected leaders demonstrated strong political will and commitment to good governance, citizen participation and prioritising equal opportunities for all citizens. Faced with limited resources, they adopted creative and non-conventional approaches in dealing with challenging issues. Medellín emphasised education and cultural transformation to bring about change.

Mayor of Medellín, Federico Guitierez Zuluaga said, “This is an important recognition that we feel proud of for our city. We thank you for the encouragement to continue working for our city, a spectacular city that has come a long way but also has a long way to go.”

Click HERE to read more about Medellín’s initiatives.