KUALA LUMPUR: The government is optimistic about achieving RM1 billion sales from the International Construction Week (ICW) and the Malaysia International Building and Construction Industry Exhibition (BuildXpo) 2024.
The expected amount is double than last year's projected sales of RM494.3 million.
Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi attributed the optimism to the rebound of the local construction industry after Covid-19.
"Last year, quite immediately after Covid-19, we recovered even more. That is why we are quite confident (about the sales projection)," he told reporters at the soft launch of ICW and BuildXpo 2024 here today.
Nanta highlighted that the government is continually exploring the potential within the construction industry.
"Only as late as a few days ago, the Construction Industry Development Board chief executive officer with his team, went to Australia.
"Before that we were somewhere else, going all around the region because we want to learn what is available for the country, what are the potentials and where Malaysia can then position itself in the construction industry to be in a global scenario as a player," he said.
The government plans to introduce new programmes aimed at attracting fresh talent to the construction industry.
"For instance, the government has been focusing on technical and vocational education and training programmes, as it is very much into the construction industry," he added.
Nanta said the industry's increasing reliance on the digital age, the Internet of Things and artificial intelligence has heightened the demand for new talent.
Therefore, talent in every sense of the word is becoming essential across various domains, he added.
