Issue 35
Summit Power International
Summit Power International Managing Director and CEO Ayesha Aziz Khan explains how the family business continues to deliver major energy infrastructure projects across Bangladesh Writer: Tom WadlowProject Manager: Matt Cole-WilkinBangladesh is home to one of the fastest growing economies in the world. The World Bank, in its latest ‘Bangladesh Development Update: Powering the Economy Efficiently’ report, has forecast a seven percent growth for the 2018/19 fiscal year, building on the 7.86 percent expansion seen in the previous period. Qimiao Fan, World Bank Country Director for Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Nepal, applauded progress made in reducing poverty and pushing human development, adding that growth will remain resilient thanks to strong domestic demand and structural transformation. The report’s findings, published on 2 October 2018, are certainly welcome news for governing authorities and businesses operating in Bangladesh – however, it also cites the need to avoid complacency. To achieve its growth aspirations, the World Bank says Bangladesh needs to create more and better jobs by boosting private investment, diversifying exports and building human capital. Further, the country also needs to make doing business easier, complete its megaprojects on a fast track, and improve financial sector governance. Finally, and of no less importance, is the need to expand a reliable electricity supply to meet the needs of a growing economy. Much progress has been made in recent years, with access to electricity increasing from 47 percent of the population in 2009 to 80 percent in 2017. But by 2030, electricity demand is expected to grow to 34 GW, more than double the country’s current installed capacity. This…
Kumul Petroleum
Papua New Guinea’s national oil & gas company is fully invested in a giant LNG project that will ensure the security of the sector for years to come.
KFC Myanmar
Maintaining MomentumKFC Myanmar continues to grow strongly having opened its first outlet in 2015. We caught up with Managing Director JR Ching for an update on progressWriter: Tom Wadlow | Project Manager: Josh MannMyanmar’s economy continues to develop at a solid rate. According to the World Bank’s latest analysis, poverty declined by 16 percentage points to 32 percent between 2005 and 2015, while the country’s GDP is estimated to have grown by 6.4 percent during the 2017/2018 financial year. A strong performing garment industry and recent approval of the Myanmar Sustainable Development Plan are positive signs for investors, and such confidence is being emulated by an expanding mid-income section of the population with disposable income. A not insignificant amount of this disposable income is being spent on dining out, and quick service restaurant (QSR) brands such as KFC have seen lift off over the past few years. Indeed, since speaking to JR Ching, Managing Director of KFC Myanmar in December 2017, great strides have been made. “We have very much continued our momentum into 2018,” Ching reflects. “With growth in disposable income, greater connectivity and economic development, we are seeing that consumer spending on food, beverages and other consumer goods is on the rise. “This is not limited to Yangon and Mandalay, and the same trend is being replicated across the country. To capture this opportunity, we have been simultaneously expanding our footprint in Yangon and Mandalay as well as continuing the push to enter smaller cities such as Bago, Monywa, Pyay and Taunggyi.” This growth in footprint translates into…
Union Medical Healthcare
Union Medical Healthcare has emerged as a leading health service provider since it came onto the scene in 2005. Now, driven by investment in knowledge, it is looking to broaden its coverage of medical disciplines even further Writer: Tom Wadlow Project Manager: Callam WallerHong Kongers live, on average, longer than people from any other part of the world. Since 2015, the vibrant urban centre has remained above its closest life expectancy rival Japan, with women enjoying an average lifespan of 87.66 years and men 85.84 years. Among the factors supporting such long and healthy lives include easy access to well-used and maintained city parks and eateries serving local food which is healthier than many come to believe. It is also no coincidence that hiker-friendly mountain ranges and water sport-conducive beaches lie on Hong Kong’s doorstep. Another, and perhaps the most obvious human factor, is Hong Kong’s healthcare setup, consistently ranked as the most efficient on earth. The sector is a hotbed of innovation, and companies such as Union Medical Healthcare (UMH) have emerged as frontrunners in terms of medical service provision. Diversified Founded in 2005 by Tang Chi Fai, UMH began life as a single aesthetic medical centre and has rapidly grown into a one-stop-shop healthcare provider, which from 2013 has included dental care. Karen Chui, Director of Corporate Finance and Investor Relations, describes the Company’s recent growth journey. “UMH has successfully evolved into a multi-discipline medical service provider following two years of listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. “Further to the establishment of a health management centre and acquisition of the largest chiropractic…
Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz of UKM
Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz of UKM Malaysia’s Medical Marvel UKM Medical Centre is leading the healthcare charge across the country, powered by its technological nous and operational synergies Writer: Jonathan Dyble | Project Manager: Callam WallerHaving gained independence from the British Empire in 1957, Malaysia has made astronomical strides in the six decades since.According to the World Economic Forum in its Global Competitiveness Index 2017-18, Malaysia is the seventh most competitive country in the East Asia and Pacific region, ahead of China, Korea and Thailand. Further, a report this year from the OECD has predicted that Malaysia will continue to make headway in the years ahead, forecasting an average annual GDP growth rate of 4.9 percent between 2018 and 2022, driven by a continual influx of external investment and rising domestic confidence.However, whilst such expansive progress must be admired, there is still significant room for progression – progression that Dr Hanafiah Harunarashid, Director of teaching hospital UKM Medical Centre, is hoping to pioneer within the country’s healthcare sector.“The concept of a teaching hospital is certainly not new, but for a relatively young country like Malaysia it has been a dream even in the early days of her independence that this former British colony will produce its own doctors to meet the needs of the people,” he says.UKM Medical Centre itself was formed in 2008 through the merger of Hospital Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (later named Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz in 2014) and the faculty of medicine at the National University of Malaysia, combined in order to gain greater operational synergies, bridging the gap between medical…
Merx Construction Management
Having undergone a brand refresh, Merx Construction Management is expanding its reach into new sectors and territories, all the while maintaining its unwavering commitment to a client-centred approach Writer: Tom Wadlow | Project Manager: Tom CullumIt’s been a crazy day here. We’ve had a photoshoot for all our staff, the guys from Savills in discussing a potential project, a meeting with another client about a possible office move, a submission due tomorrow, and I’m now about to travel to Melbourne.” William Forwood had always wanted to run his own business. In 2001 the opportunity presented itself – a fork in the road which either led to Tokyo or the establishment of a business in Singapore based around a contract to build 1,000 bus shelters for the government. Forwood opted for the latter, and 17 years on the day to day running of Merx Construction Management remains a hive of activity. “We have just finished a brand refresh with a new logo, website and tagline which is ‘Merx, Inspiring Spaces’,” the Group CEO adds. “It has given us a freshness and reinvention, and this has been backed up by some exciting developments. The past year has seen a lot going on, both in terms of internal machinations and taking on new clients and projects in some new sectors and markets.” New horizons Forwood identifies the transport sector, specifically aviation, as a promising avenue Merx has expanded into recently. This involves working with clients on more technical construction types with more exacting industry regulations and standards. “We’ve picked up two new projects in Singapore and the…
Emrail
Having risen to the top as one of the country’s leading railway engineering players, Emrail is now looking to conquer new markets across the continent Writer: Jonathan DybleProject Manager: Tom CullumIn 1994 Kuala Lumpur was named ahead of Adelaide, Australia as the host nation of the XVI Commonwealth Games – an event that has since left an infrastructure legacy throughout Malaysia’s capital city.The announcement was a defining moment for sport in the region, not only across the country but the wider continent. For the first time in the Games’ 68-year history, they were to be held in Asia.With a total 3,639 athletes from 69 different territories in attendance, the Malaysian government geared up for the influx in tourism and demands surrounding such an event by commissioning a variety of infrastructure improvements. The Games Village was constructed from scratch, now standing as one of the city’s most attractive condominiums, whilst the Bukil Jalil National Stadium, still considered to be the largest stadium in Southeast Asia with an official capacity of 87,411, was built in 1998.With the entire nation having been geared towards preparing for the event, many construction players took on significant responsibility in helping to create the required infrastructure.One such company was Emrail, a local firm that has since risen to become one of the country’s major railway engineering businesses.“Emrail got its big break in 1997 when Malaysia started to build the first metro networks in Kuala Lumpur in preparation for the 16th Commonwealth Games,” explains Dr Arvind Hari Narayanan, Executive Director of the Company.In the years…
Nishimatsu Construction Singapore
Nishimatsu has been supporting vital infrastructure projects in the city state for almost four decades, the latest being the second phase of an enormous underground sewerage systemWriter: Tom WadlowProject Manager: Tom CullumSingapore is synonymous with state-of-the-art. A story of rapid post-independence development into one of the wealthiest nations in the world, the city state is consistently recognised for its enviable infrastructure.Last year consulting firm Mercer named Singapore as the best in the world when it comes to infrastructure, a vital consideration for multinationals which continue to arrive in their droves. From immaculate and surprisingly affordable metros and buses to a massive container port, the city is an ideal home for organisations to base their regional operations. These foundations have been built up over decades of meticulous planning and investment, and Japan’s Nishimatsu Construction Co., Ltd. has been an ever-present since it arrived in Singapore in 1980. Drawing on its 145-year heritage in its home country, the firm has played a leading role in building key infrastructure throughout Singapore, most notably in rail transport. Indeed, when speaking to Asia Outlook in April 2016, Nishimatsu, together with its joint venture partner Bachy Soletanche, was in full swing working on the Thomson-East Coast Line. Considerable progress has been made on this project and new contracts have been landed since, as Assistant General Manager of Nishimatsu Singapore Lim Wee Beng explains: “It has been very busy for Nishimatsu in the past two years. On the operation front, we completed our SPPA cable tunnel EW3 project in 2017. “Similarly, we achieved major milestones for our…
DP Facade
Director Mathieu Meur explains how Singapore’s DP Façade is able to draw on the expertise of nine other business units spread across multiple architectural-related disciplines and territoriesWriter: Tom WadlowProject Manager: Tom CullumFaçades, perhaps contrary to popular opinion, serve a far greater purpose to a building than providing an attractive frontage. In an age where the popularity of green buildings is booming, the need for a façade to boost performance in energy efficiency as well as differentiate aesthetically from others in ever-busier skylines is more pressing than ever. Add in the indispensable element of a building’s safety, and it is no surprise that the global demand for façade expertise is expected to reach $337.8 billion by 2025. This figure, produced by Grand View Research, represents an annual growth rate of more than seven percent, driven by the demand for sustainability and cost-effective heating and air conditioning systems. Another striking observation is that Asia Pacific dominates the façade sector. In 2016, the region accounted for 30 percent of revenues thanks to growing construction of commercial and industrial buildings in the likes of China, India and Southeast Asia. DP Façade, headquartered in Singapore, could not be better situated to take advantage of and influence this exploding market. As one of nine specialist units operating under DP Architects, its origins can be traced back to 1967 when Design Partnership (DP) set up shop as a small architectural practice just two years after the country achieved independence. Koh Seow Chuan, William SW Lim and Tay Kheng Soon established the business with the aspiration ‘to produce architecture that uplifts…
Emrail
Having risen to the top as one of the country’s leading railway engineering players, Emrail is now looking to conquer new markets across the continent Writer: Jonathan DybleProject Manager: Tom CullumIn 1994 Kuala Lumpur was named ahead of Adelaide, Australia as the host nation of the XVI Commonwealth Games – an event that has since left an infrastructure legacy throughout Malaysia’s capital city.The announcement was a defining moment for sport in the region, not only across the country but the wider continent. For the first time in the Games’ 68-year history, they were to be held in Asia.With a total 3,639 athletes from 69 different territories in attendance, the Malaysian government geared up for the influx in tourism and demands surrounding such an event by commissioning a variety of infrastructure improvements. The Games Village was constructed from scratch, now standing as one of the city’s most attractive condominiums, whilst the Bukil Jalil National Stadium, still considered to be the largest stadium in Southeast Asia with an official capacity of 87,411, was built in 1998.With the entire nation having been geared towards preparing for the event, many construction players took on significant responsibility in helping to create the required infrastructure.One such company was Emrail, a local firm that has since risen to become one of the country’s major railway engineering businesses.“Emrail got its big break in 1997 when Malaysia started to build the first metro networks in Kuala Lumpur in preparation for the 16th Commonwealth Games,” explains Dr Arvind Hari Narayanan, Executive Director of the Company.In the years…