Construction

Economic growth linked to Mongolia's huge mining potential has raised the prospect of long-awaited funds arriving for the construction of badly needed infrastructure projects in power, transport and other municipal sectors.

Indonesia’s construction sector is in the midst of a sustained boom, with both private and public spending on the rise, but there are concerns in the industry that the slow pace of launching new projects could hinder this growth.

Brunei Darussalam has moved to further streamline the approval process for construction and land development projects to boost foreign investment and encourage local builders. However, government initiatives to improve workplace conditions and regulations will require construction firms to comply with tighter environmental protection requirements.

The construction sector in the Philippines appears to be cooling after a fast-paced 2010, with a slowing of state spending and concerns over the health of the global economy taking some of the heat out of what remains a growth industry.

From Saudi Arabia to Qatar, governments across the Gulf region are ramping up spending on building projects, with this likely to generate a host of opportunities for Ras Al Khaimah’s construction materials industry, a mainstay of the local economy.

With fresh incentives attracting multinationals to locate in Bangkok, the capital is getting ready to adopt the next generation of building standards. Smart money these days is on environmentally conscious “green building” that combines cost-efficiency, social responsibility and productivity gains.