Concrete Asia Launches First Dedicated Concrete and Construction Trade Show in Thailand

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The 4-in-1 exhibition and conference aims to attract over 450 exhibitors, brands and thousands of trade professionals from across the region.

The 4-in-1 exhibition and conference aims to attract over 450 exhibitors, brands and thousands of trade professionals from across the region.

Scheduled to take place from 21 to 23 September, 2016 at the IMPACT Exhibition & Convention Centre in Bangkok, Thailand, Concrete Asia 2016 is jointly organised by the Asian Concrete Construction Industry in partnership with Globe International Events Consultancy Pte Ltd, Singapore and Impact Exhibition Management Company Thailand. It aims to gather industry professionals to network and display a full spectrum of the concrete supply chain in the world of civil construction for paving, surfacing, building and infrastructure.

Concrete Asia 2016 will be held as part of the Asian Construction Week, which also comprises of BMAM Expo Asia 2016 and GBR Expo Asia 2016, presenting a mega presentation in over 200,000 square feet of exhibition area that will showcase the latest products and technologies. There will also be more than 20 seminars and conferences held alongside during the Asian Construction Week.

Increased urbanisation, investment, government spending, and consumer spending has set Concrete Asia to target the Asian economies which is expected to double in the next 10 to 15 years. To accommodate the striving demand, the Asia’s construction market is expected to grow in both residential and infrastructure sectors. ASEAN is a trillion dollar economy, with growth expected to reach US$4 trillion in 2020 and is the perfect market for the concrete industry.

As the world enters the 4th industrial Revolution, which is also known as “Industry 4.0” defined by the application of Internet of Things (IOT), big data analytics, cyber-physical systems and many other advanced technologies, the concrete industry stands on the threshold of a major transformation that requires economies around the world, including Asia, to redefine and reinvent themselves in order to progress and thrive, according to Professor Dai Xianming, President of the Asian Concrete Construction Institute (ACCI).

“Besides having the exhibition itself presenting trade and networking opportunities, the event is also a strong content platform in terms of the trends, technology and knowledge which are essential for the continual development of the concrete construction in the region. I welcome all in the industry to grow their businesses to success together with our event when it officially opens in September 2016”, said Mr. Loy Joon How, General Manager, IMPACT Exhibition Management Co.

The 4-in-1 exhibition and conference aims to attract over 450 exhibitors, brands and thousands of trade professionals from across the region. The event’s hosted VIP buyer programme will also host more than 120 key buyers from across the region to facilitate close door buyer-seller meetings.

Build Eco Xpo (BEX) Asia 2016: futureproofing the green building industry

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L to R Dr John Keung, CEO, BCA; Lee Fook Sun, Chairman, BCA; Minister Lawrence Wong; Debbie Evans, President, Reed Exhibitions, SEA and Australia; Chia Ngiang Hong, President, SGBC

L to R Dr John Keung, CEO, BCA; Lee Fook Sun, Chairman, BCA; Minister Lawrence Wong; Debbie Evans, President, Reed Exhibitions, SEA and Australia; Chia Ngiang Hong, President, SGBC

Against a backdrop of accelerating climate change and rapidly increasing population growth, the call for more energy and cost-efficient buildings in Southeast Asia is immediate. With IDC’s prediction that Asia Pacific will become the frontline for the Internet of Things (IoT) by 2020, the green building industry can expect an increased adoption of green technologies with a growing focus on IoT.

Returning in its ninth edition, Build Eco Xpo (BEX) Asia 2016 is held at Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Centre Singapore from 7 to 9 September. BEX Asia 2016 is one of the anchor events of the Singapore Green Building Week (SGBW). In light of a rapidly-advancing infocomm technology landscape, BEX Asia is uniquely poised to deliver ideas and solutions to futureproof the built environment with an increased focus on smart yet energy-efficient technologies.

The event will see the convergence of green building experts, policy-makers, academics and built environment practitioners of international recognition for a discussion of new ways to tackle these issues. Exhibitors will showcase ways in which green buildings and new technologies can work in tandem for a regenerative approach to building designs, propelling the industry beyond the existing sustainability agenda.

The opening ceremony was graced by Minister for National Development, Mr Lawrence Wong.

Focus on green architectures, smart technologies and energy efficient solutions

The future of the green building industry is facing a high degree of complexity and uncertainty due to climate change and the disruptive nature of innovation. As regenerative solutions take centerstage this year, visitors to BEX Asia will see a strategic three-way rollout of the exhibition and seminar to focus on green architectures, smart technologies and energy efficient solutions.

Continuing the tradition of previous exhibitions, BEX Asia 2016 will also house dedicated market pavilions from mainland China, Taiwan and Singapore, consolidating in-country exhibitors for an overview of game-changing solutions of local relevance to the regional audience.

Some of the exhibitors that will be present at BEX Asia 2016 include Anacle Systems, Nippon Paint, Akzo Nobel Paints, Camfil, Fuji SMBE, Kansai Paint, LifeSmart Singapore, Mun Hean, Parex Group, REC, and ST Electronics.

On the seminar ground: Thought provoking insights exchange

According to the Global Green Building Market Outlook 2020 published by Research and Markets, the worldwide green building market will grow at a compound annual growth rate of about 13 percent from 2015 to 2020. This growth can partly be attributed to rising awareness of the implications of climate change, and the understanding that green buildings can result in lower level of greenhouse emissions.

To continue to advance such knowledge, industry innovators will gather at the ‘Green View’ to share related insights from which our man-made environment is founded on. Seminar goers can expect topics ranging from an education of materials necessary for green architectures by San Marco Paints and Graphenstone, to visionary tales of a smart community by Lux Research and getting to the heart of the energy efficiency boom by AECOM.

To complement these discussions, event organisers have also enhanced the business matching programme. Set to attract the region’s key suppliers and marketers, BEX Asia 2016 is expected to surpass more than US$125m in green building business transactions. Visitors can expect one-to-one business matching, as well as key networking with regional delegations including Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam and beyond Asia from Italy.

“Beyond sustainability and the recognised need to reduce carbon footprint, there is a greater call to strengthen competitiveness and collaboration between private and public stakeholders for collective action. We want to walk the talk and ensure that BEX Asia continues to be relevant. The solid foundation we’ve built will help us continue conversations for a better tomorrow for future generations,” said Louise Chua, Business Development Director and Project Director, Reed Exhibitions, organiser of BEX Asia 2016.

Aimed at inspiring green building leaders around the region, BEX Asia 2016 will be held alongside the second edition of Mostra Convegno Expocomfort (MCE) Asia, the leading trade exhibition dedicated to energy efficient solutions in HVAC-R, plumbing technology, sanitary accessories, and renewable energy, as well as the International Green Building Conference (IGBC) organised by the Building and Construction Authority of Singapore. Both exhibitions will play host to more than 450 exhibiting companies across the region to a congregation of over 12,000 trade visitors.

Visitor registration is now open at: http://www.bex-asia.com/visit/registration/.

SUEZ launches AQUADVANCED(R) Urban Drainage, an innovative waste and storm water solution

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Stormwater is responsible for 50% of the pollution flowing into rivers and beaches in urban areas.

Faced with urban population growth, global warming and changing regulations, optimising the performance of sewer and stormwater networks is a priority for local authorities. Responding to this challenge, SUEZ is launching AQUADVANCED® Urban Drainage[1], a digital solution that allows local authorities to monitor in real time their sewer and stormwater networks to mitigate the risk of flooding and to control the quality of discharges into the natural environment.

Optimising The Performance Of Sewer And Stormwater Networks: A Challenge For Local Authorities

Rising urbanisation and the increase of impermeable surfaces in urban areas have reduced the natural infiltration of stormwater into the soil to 15%. The remaining 85% flows on the surface, collecting the residues deposited on roofs and roads (fuel, heavy metals, plastics, etc.). Local authorities are faced with the challenge of collecting these polluted waters in the sewerage networks, and of treating them later into wastewater treatment plants to reduce the risks of severe flooding, human and material damage and pollution of the natural ecosystem. Stormwater is responsible for 50% of the pollution flowing into rivers and beaches in urban areas.

AQUADVANCED® Urban Drainage To Better Manage Sewer And Stormwater Systems, Prevent Flooding And Preserve The Quality Of The Receiving Water Bodies

In response to these challenges, SUEZ is launching AQUADVANCED® Urban Drainage, a digital solution that helps local authorities to manage their sewer and stormwater systems. The tool allows to choose the solution that best meets their needs, from the monitoring of an environment (rivers, the sea, sewerage networks), to the anticipation of flooding events and pollution of the natural environment, and the predictive and dynamic management of the complete sewerage system.

AQUADVANCED® Urban Drainage provides a global, real-time vision of the complete system, based on data from sensors installed both in the network and in the environment (rivers, watercourses, etc.) and on short-term weather forecasts. By centralising and analysing all these data, the software solution can anticipate the hydraulic performance of the network (saturated storage capacities, volumes to be treated, etc.) or of the natural ecosystem (risk of pollution or overflowing watercourses). For certain sewerage systems, the tool can also calculate the best control strategy, and automatically and remotely monitor the system’s facilities (storage reservoirs, pumping stations, etc.).

AQUADVANCED® Urban Drainage anticipates the risk of untreated wastewater overflowing into the natural ecosystem, monitors the quality of discharge on a daily basis and helps to protect the environment. Deploying this system can cut the volumes of stormwater that flow into rivers or the sea by up to 45%.

Presented at the Singapore International Water Week (10-14 July), where it is currently being deployed, AQUADVANCED® Urban Drainage has been already introduced in eight European cities, including Bordeaux, the Paris conurbation, Marseille and Barcelona.

Leader on the Smart Water market in Europe, SUEZ is complementing its offer to support local authorities in the sustainable management of resources with this management software dedicated to optimise sewer and stormwater networks’ performance. AQUADVANCED® Urban Drainage completes the existing software offer for the drinking water networks, named AQUADVANCED® Water Networks.

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[1] AQUADVANCED® is a registered trademark or a trademark under pending application.

Arcadis Report Finds Construction Disputes in Asia Last Longer Than Ever

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The length of time needed to resolve a construction dispute in Asia increased to an average of 19.5 months.

The length of time needed to resolve a construction dispute in Asia increased to an average of 19.5 months.

The length of time needed to resolve a construction dispute in Asia increased to an average of 19.5 months, according to the Global Construction Disputes: Don’t get left behind report released today by Arcadis. Impacting parties involved in a dispute and the overall construction industry, this figure is four months longer than the global average of 15.5 months.

While in 2015 the industry has seen an overall reduction in the value of construction disputes in Asia, disputes here are still approximately 45 percent higher than the global average of US$46 million.

The value of disputes relating to global construction projects in Asia has dropped from US$85.6 million to US$67 million in 2015. The report found that the value of construction disputes were the highest in the Middle East at US$82 million, followed by Asia. This year’s report is Arcadis’ sixth annual study into the duration, value, common causes and methods of resolution of construction disputes across the globe.

The study reveals that in 2015 there were some changes in the reasons behind disputes in Asia as compared to previous years. A failure to properly administer the contract moved up from second in last year’s report to first in 2015. The study found that the most common causes of construction disputes related to the administration of contracts. The top three causes were:

  • Failure to properly administer the contract
  • Failure to make interim awards on extensions of time and compensation|
  • Poorly drafted or incomplete and unsubstantiated claims

Where a dispute occurred, Joint Ventures (JVs) were more likely to be behind the cause in Asia, with a JV–related difference the cause in 41.4 percent of all cases, compared with a global average of 25.5 percent.

The three most common methods of Alternative Dispute Resolution that were used during 2015 in Asia were:

  • Party to party negotiation
  • Arbitration
  • Mediation

From a market perspective, Arcadis believe that although there is a construction slowdown, China, Hong Kong and Singapore markets are now facing challenges that are presented by large-scale infrastructure projects nearing completion. To address both historic and current issues, several regulatory changes have been implemented across the region. Hong Kong introduced the Rights of Third Parties Ordinance on 1 January, 2016, and the Security of Payment is due in 2017. Singapore is currently in consultation on a Mediation Bill, which looks to strengthen the overall framework for the use of mediation.

Philip Moss, Head of Contract Solutions, Asia, said: “We are expecting to see the number of disputes we will be dealing with in the coming year to increase. Given the current economic conditions, stakes are high for both parties and no one is looking to engage in long and protracted disputes; thus we are likely to see a further increase in the use of ad hoc forms of Alternative Dispute Resolution in the region. With that said, perhaps the best course of action is to seek to resolve issues before they become a formal dispute, instead of passively looking at ways to address issues that arise on the projects.”

Mike Allen, Global Leader of Contract Solutions at Arcadis, added: “The construction industry faced head winds, particularly with commodity and currency volatility. It is evident that the natural resources market is now operating against a very different economic backdrop. The business case assumptions that were likely used to endorse projects and programs have therefore changed, presenting a huge challenge to the project and entity risk profiles.”

Download the full report HERE.

Faithful+Gould Share How Hong Kong is Once Again Attracting Commercial Property Investors

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A view of the Hong Kong city scape.

A view of the Hong Kong city scape.

Hong Kong’s real estate development opportunities can be challenging. New opportunities are opening up in Kowloon, but how do you ensure your building is fit for purpose?

Following a somewhat stagnant commercial property market in 2015, Hong Kong is now attracting investors once again. Change of use is a key driver, with many properties being purchased or leased with a view to converting to hotels or offices. The hospitality market remains healthy, creating ongoing demand for hotels.

Grade A office space, in the central business district of Hong Kong Island, tends to have long leases and rarely changes hands. Today’s available property is frequently snapped up by mainland financial institutions looking to build a bigger footprint in the city due to Beijing’s ‘going out’ strategy. According to Colliers International, the 11 state-owned banking giants each occupy at least 100,000 square feet in Central.

Away from land-hungry Central, however, ongoing redevelopment across the harbour is presenting interesting real estate opportunities. Kowloon’s lower rents are attracting prospective tenants, many of whom are keen to downsize and relocate to escape high Central rents. Kowloon East is becoming a popular location for the city’s insurance and shipping sectors, with overseas investment banks also showing interest.

Back office functions, especially, are straightforward to accommodate here. Media and creative companies are also favouring the district, with its mix of traditional and warehouse/loft spaces.

In Kowloon East, government land supply has the potential to release another 13.6 million square feet of commercial floor space onto the market. Much of this will be at Kai Tak, where occupants will also benefit from the new rail infrastructure linking into Central.

The first challenge for prospective investors outside of Central is to accept the location. A company’s staff will typically prefer the prestige of Central, with its good transport links. However, the corporate cost benefits are significant, so selling the idea to staff may be a necessary part of the plan.

Financial companies will need specific infrastructure, which is sometimes seen as a stumbling block, though in reality, this is relatively easily organised. Change-of-use compliances are complex, with inward investors typically unfamiliar with Hong Kong’s complicated system. The main pitfall is ending up with an unsuitable building, not fit for purpose.

For many clients, Faithful+Gould is with them from project inception to completion and relocation/occupation, offering a full turnkey package. Faithful+Gould performs due diligence, checking the technical suitability and fitness of purpose of the building. We provide a full detailed report including costs and expert analysis. Visit Faithful+Gould for more information.

Autodesk and Trimble Sign Agreement to Increase Interoperability

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Autodesk and Trimble will take steps to accelerate interoperability by exchanging (APIs) and developer tools. Image courtesy of Autodesk.

Autodesk and Trimble will take steps to accelerate interoperability by exchanging (APIs) and developer tools. Image courtesy of Autodesk.

Trimble and Autodesk, Inc. have entered into an interoperability agreement aimed at saving customers time and reducing project costs typically associated with workflow inefficiency across different suppliers’ technologies. This will benefit architects, engineers and contractors, and importantly, project owners by enabling more freedom to optimise technology workflows needed to meet the complex requirements of today’s construction projects

Autodesk and Trimble have a shared goal of meeting the evolving needs of the building and infrastructure industries. Reliable, fluent exchange of information among multiple stakeholders and platforms is essential to this end. The Trimble and Autodesk collaboration demonstrates their ongoing commitment to support open industry standards such as Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) and Construction Operations Building Information Exchange (COBie), and can enable current and prospective Autodesk and Trimble customers working on the same projects to work together seamlessly through optimized file compatibility across applications.

Under the terms of agreement, Autodesk and Trimble will take steps to accelerate interoperability by exchanging Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) and developer tools to build and market interoperable products. This allows the two companies to improve upon existing data exchanges, as well as open up new workflows between their products.

Tighter product-to-product integration can enable design and construction professionals to share models, project files and other data between select Autodesk and Trimble solutions both in the office and the field, and allow for the reuse of information during design and construction throughout all phases of the project.

“The strength of a company is best measured by its willingness to do what is right for its customers and the industry at large. This interoperability agreement, like others we’ve signed, speaks to Autodesk’s commitment to openness,” said Amar Hanspal, senior vice president, Autodesk. “This collaboration with Trimble speaks to our shared dedication to making the building process more efficient and productive for all involved.”

“This collaboration demonstrates our mutual commitment to provide design and construction professionals with a seamless experience from both Autodesk and Trimble design-build-operate solutions,” said Bryn Fosburgh, vice president at Trimble. “As a result all stakeholders across the construction lifecycle can optimize their workflow efficiency.”

Philips’ New APAC Headquarters to Address Healthcare Needs

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The new Philips APAC Centre.

The new Philips APAC Centre.

Royal Philips has strengthened its commitment to improving the lives of people in Asia Pacific with its new state-of-the-art Philips APAC Centre in Singapore. Guests of Honour Mr. S. Iswaran, Minister of Trade and Industry (Industry), and H.E. Jacques Werner, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Singapore attended the opening ceremony. Housed in Toa Payoh, the new 38,000-square-metre office building brings together Philips’ innovation and design expertise and business-creation capabilities to better serve the company’s business growth and address healthcare needs in the region.

Globally and in Asia, people are increasingly looking for ways to be healthy, to live well and to care for themselves and their families at home. To address these needs, collaborations and partnerships between healthcare professionals and corporate enterprises are imperative to delivering innovative solutions across the health continuum.

“Our new Philips APAC Centre – that will house our APAC headquarters and innovation activities – serves as a gateway to the region. Singapore, with its strong pool of skilled talent, is critical to us as we are increasing our focus into health technology. Our business is going through a transformation – from a supplier of individual medical and consumer products to a provider of integrated health technology solutions and services. This means that our facilities and ways of working need to transform as well,” said Fabian Wong, Chief Executive Officer, Philips ASEAN Pacific.

The Centre was built and designed with Workplace Innovation (WPI) in mind.

The Centre was built and designed with Workplace Innovation (WPI) in mind.

“We are confident that the new Philips APAC Center will be a critical node in Philips’ global innovation network, serving as a platform for Philips and its partners to co-create new digital healthcare solutions for Asia, from Singapore,” said Ms. Thien Kwee Eng, Assistant Managing Director of the Singapore Economic Development Board. “Its establishment will reinforce Singapore’s capabilities in design, digital innovation and healthcare, as we build a future economy based on innovation and value-creation.”

 

 

 

The new Philips Toa Payoh campus is set to deliver innovative solutions across the health continuum through the following world-class facilities:

  • The Philips Continuous Care Monitoring Room is where healthcare professionals remotely monitor the health of home-based patients with advanced cloud-based healthcare equipment and solutions. Philips’ solutions leverage data that enables predictive and timely interventions, delivering accurate answers at the time of need, and detecting issues before they become critical. These pioneering technologies are able to optimise the utilisation of public health resources by reducing the need for hospitalization and empowering healthcare professionals with new ways of delivering care for their patients.
  • The Health Continuum Space has the capability to simulate multiple health-medical scenarios at the same time – from a mock hospital all the way to a patient’s home. The space enables prototyping of new solutions that help make a meaningful difference in the future of patient care. Through the simulation of these different environments, Philips is able to demonstrate and test new workflows that can then be used to build future healthcare models.
  • The Philips Learning Centre is fully equipped with state-of-the-art medical equipment such as MRI and X-Ray machines, laboratories and classrooms. Here is where healthcare technicians and practitioners can enrich their knowledge and have first-hand experience handling and operating Philips medical equipment.
  • The Consumer Care centre comes equipped with a user-friendly digital platform where visitors can conveniently access Philips product information, ratings, and reviews in real-time. Purchases can also be made in the center through the online store. The centre will host cooking classes, new product launches, product demonstrations and more, allowing visitors to fully experience the Philips suite of products that promote health and well-being.

    The building is equipped with Philips' own LED lighting systems.

    The building is equipped with Philips’ own LED lighting systems.

In addition, the building is equipped with the company’s own LED lighting systems. Beyond sustainable features like energy-savings and a lowered carbon footprint, connected lighting with Philips PoE (Power-over-Ethernet) is built into areas where higher interaction levels are expected. Facilities management efficiency is improved with less mains wiring since the same cable can serve as the phone line, Internet cable and power cable simultaneously. Remote management of these lighting systems also means increased productivity and personalised control.

The Centre was built and designed with Workplace Innovation (WPI) in mind, a new way of working that encourages collaboration. With the aim to reduce carbon footprint, the new building now houses employees who used to occupy four buildings, with facilities that foster an activity-based collaborative work culture – a vivid manifestation of Philips’ business goals and role as the regional headquarters. The open-concept design of workplaces and the use of collaborative digital technologies enable employees to be more flexible and agile, in turn enabling them to be more productive, inspired and creative.

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.

Er. Edwin Khew Assumes Presidency of IES

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Er. Edwin Khew.

Er. Edwin Khew.

The Institution of Engineers, Singapore (IES) recently announced that (Er.) Edwin Khew, Managing Director of Anaergia Singapore Pte Ltd, will be taking over the reins of IES Presidency from Er. Chong Kee Sen.

Er. Khew will be officially inaugurated as the IES President for a term of two years (Sessions 2016/17 and 2017/18) at the 50th IES Annual General Meeting (AGM) to be held on 28 May 2016 at the Suntec Singapore Convention & Exhibition Centre.

For his new appointment, Er. Khew has set three key thrusts in collaboration with the IES Council: to deliver greater value and relevance to IES members, to raise the profile of engineering as the profession of choice and to steer IES towards becoming the focal point and strategic partner for all present and future engineering initiatives in Singapore.

“It is a huge responsibility to be the IES President during its Golden Jubilee Year especially as Singapore crosses into its second 50 years of development. This is a critical juncture that will determine the success of Singapore’s future growth into the high tech sector and being a smart nation, as engineering will be one of the key professions required to drive these areas of growth. I do hope to steer IES to strengthen its engineering excellence through the development of strong and active technical committees (TCs) covering all sectors of engineering in IES and in enthusing the young to take up an interest in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics). We hope that by showing students how they can be part of this exciting future growth of Singapore, they will be encouraged to take up engineering after they leave school,” said Er. Khew.

Er. Khew will also focus on the softer aspects of engineering, especially in promoting social and environmental responsibility amongst IES members and in encouraging young engineers to be more enterprising. He has made significant contributions to Singapore’s Cleantech, sustainable energy and manufacturing industries. He played a leading role in the establishment of the first Cleantech Incubator/Accelerator for Singapore start-ups and foreign companies in 2013. He was also the former President of the Singapore Manufacturers’ Federation, the current Chairman of the Sustainable Energy Association of Singapore (SEAS) and Chairman of the Singapore Standards Council. Er Khew served as a Nominated Member of Parliament between 2006 and 2008 and was awarded the Public Service Medal (PBM) by the President of Singapore during Singapore’s National Day in 2014.

Er. Khew has been an IES member since 2006 and served as a Vice President in the IES Council from 2008 to 2015. He has made pivotal contributions as the head of several groups and as the chair of the Chemical and Process Engineering Technical Committee (CAPE TC) where he took on the Presidency of the Asia Pacific Conference of Chemical Engineering Congress (APCChE) in 2012, which was held in Singapore for the second time after 25 years. Er. Khew succeeds the 25th IES President, Er. Chong Kee Sen, director of civil & structural consulting engineering firm, Engineers 9000 Pte Ltd.

“Er. Khew is an exemplary engineer, a successful entrepreneur and an inspiring leader. His passion for engineering and wealth of knowledge make him the ideal candidate to lead IES to its next chapter of growth. I am confident that IES will achieve great heights under his leadership,” said Er. Chong.

Singapore Remains Most Attractive Country for Infrastructure Investment

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singapore-431421_960_720Singapore, with its stable political situation, secure business environment and strong growth potential, remains the most attractive market for infrastructure investors, according to Arcadis, a global design and consultancy firm.

Singapore has retained its position as the world’s most attractive market for the third edition of the Global Infrastructure Investment Index. The report highlights the most dynamic and attractive markets for infrastructure investment worldwide.

Singapore ranked consistently highly across business, risk, infrastructure and financial indicators, and despite a slightly lower score for economic factors, it maintains a strong overall economic environment. Whilst most projects have traditionally been publicly funded, Singapore is seeking to develop involvement from private institutional investors. Work is underway in the city-state to improve understanding of infrastructure as an asset class to make it more attractive to investors, part of which includes the development of new benchmarking tools.

Currently, Singapore invests around 5 percent of its GDP on infrastructure, equivalent to US$20 billion in 2015, and this continues to rise. By 2020, Singapore aims to invest 6 percent of GDP, the equivalent of US$30 billion, which makes the market even more attractive for investment. Priority schemes are planned in healthcare and transport, including the expansion of Changi Airport through the construction of a fifth terminal. Previous expansion of the airport, which involved construction of Terminal 4, saw Arcadis acting as lead surveyor.

Elsewhere in Asia, Malaysia rose in the ranking to fifth place. Its strong economic performance and continued long-term investment in infrastructure, such as the capital’s metro system, have made the market attractive for investment. However, in the short term, investment is threatened by a number of risks, including its currency depreciation against the dollar and a high-profile corruption scandal that has delayed some projects.

In terms of economic score, China ranks first among the 41 countries analysed, yet its less attractive business conditions and higher risk environment keep it ranked at number 17 in the index.

The top ten most attractive countries for long-term infrastructure investment in 2016 are:

Screen Shot 2016-06-14 at 10.55.38 pm

 

 

 

 

 

The rankings for Asia Pacific countries are:

Screen Shot 2016-06-14 at 10.57.04 pm

 

 

 

 

Graham Kean, Head of Client Development at Arcadis Asia, said: “The index gives us valuable insights into how long-term political and economic stability leads to greater investment, so it is no surprise that Singapore remains at the top of the table. In the region as a whole, there is clearly a lot of social and public need for new infrastructure. There are a whole host of project ideas and plans out there, but they are not investible or bankable enough, which is the basic problem. The key to unlocking investments in the region hinges on making the projects bankable, an area which we have been supporting.”

Kean added, “We have already seen Asia-based investors taking positions globally as infrastructure becomes an increasingly popular asset class for private sector investors, particularly in times of increased risk and uncertainty. Income streams are relatively more stable and will be around for 30 years or more, the sort of timeframe some investors are increasingly drawn to. Short-term impacts can also create investment opportunities, such as a change of government or currency devaluation and these need to be weighed with the underpinning long-term situation.”