UKTI cites 鈥榠mmediate and sustainable鈥� opportunities for UK construction in rapidly growing cities in Asia

The opportunities for UK construction in the rapidly growing cities of Asia are 鈥渋mmediate and sustainable鈥�, according to a new report from UK Trade & Industry published this week.

The report, carried out by consultant Frost & Sullivan on behalf of UKTI, analysed a number of cities in terms of 鈥渟mart development鈥� across 10 high-growth markets: Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam.

The report highlighted burgeoning opportunities for UK construction in these markets, particularly in green building technology and retrofitting, with demand for British expertise in these areas growing.

The report defined 鈥渟mart cities鈥� as those that achieve sustainability through integration of ICT and other technologies into their planning, design and management, adding that by 2020, there are expected to be around 40 such cities around the world with Asia leading the way.

Frost & Sullivan director Iain Jawad said: 鈥淔or UK businesses able to successfully penetrate these markets, the opportunity is both immediate and sustainable.鈥�

Ed Baker, a Singapore-based director of architect Broadway Malyan, agreed that British regeneration and low-carbon expertise was in high demand in Asia and said he had recently taken a delegation of Chinese planners to see London developments such as the Greenwich Peninsula.

鈥淭he delegation was very keen to know about regeneration, applying green principles and the move towards a knowledge-based economy,鈥� he said.

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