kuala lumpur: The International Construction Week (ICW) and the 2024 Malaysian International Building and Construction Industry Exhibition (BuildXpo) are expected to double sales from the previous year to around RM1 billion, said Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta. Minister of Labor Lingi said.
The Minister said these expectations are supported by the active participation expected through the BuildXpo exhibition and targeted international business matching sessions.
“We have set our sights high because we are confident in the current state of our construction industry,” Nanta said at today’s soft launch press conference.
Additionally, this year’s session is expected to feature 25 buyers from at least 10 diverse markets including China, Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, Russia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Korea, Japan and India.
Last year, ICW and BuildXpo posted a total expected revenue of RM494.3 million, including RM376.5 million from trade visits and RM117.8 million from international business matching activities.
The Minister said the event has been established as the region’s premier event for networking, innovation and expansion in the construction sector.
Under this year’s forward-looking theme ‘Envisioning the Future of Construction’, the 2024 event will focus on key industry gatherings such as the Construction Outlook Summit 2024 and the Construction Dispute Resolution Conference.
Mr Nanta emphasized the importance of this event in making Malaysia’s construction industry globally famous and strengthening its competitiveness.
He said ICW and BuildXpo 2024 will not only highlight technological advances and career prospects, but also focus on the industry’s social contributions.
He added that the event places the highest emphasis on inclusivity and sustainable development.
“The vitality of the construction industry lies in its ability to attract and empower a dynamic influx of talent.
“With the need for modernization as technology advances, ICW has emerged as a platform for the younger generation to pursue a career within the industry.
“In this digital age, the participation of today’s young people is paramount. Their technical capabilities and willingness to innovate have the potential to revolutionize construction methods, sustainability practices and safety standards.” he stated.
BuildXpo 2024, an exhibition component of ICW, will showcase products and services across sectors including construction technology, machinery, software, industrialized building systems, equipment, materials, smart building systems, automation solutions, and services. We will also spotlight construction startup companies.
ICW and BuildXpo 2023 attracted 9,470 trade visitors from 37 countries along with conference participants.
Organizers expect this year’s exhibition to attract more than 10,000 industry professionals. The goal is to accommodate 500 booths in an exhibition space of 10,000m2.
This year’s edition is sponsored by the Department of Public Works and other associations including the Malaysian Institute of Consulting Engineers, the Chartered Institute of Architects and the Malaysian Institute of Architects.
Qube Integrated Malaysia executive chairman Richard Teo said collaboration with industry giants such as Gamuda, MRCB, Petronas and YTL Cement contributed to the results.
“Furthermore, by expanding BuildXpo’s reach to emerging markets such as Zimbabwe and Zambia, we aim to open doors for Malaysian construction companies and contribute to economic growth in these regions,” he added.
