Development of infrastructure, main engine of economic growth, according to senior minister | Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR, September 30 – Infrastructure development is one of the main engines of economic growth, as infrastructure assets and services provide the basic physical and organizational structures that define the efficient functionality of an economy and its functioning. social dynamics.

Therefore, access to reliable, quality, efficient and affordable infrastructure services is essential to reduce poverty, promote economic growth, support social development and build resilient communities, said the Senior Minister of Public Works. , Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.

He said so in his opening speech at the 2021 Asia Economic and Entrepreneurship Summit, on “Building Sustainable Infrastructure for Economic Growth” today, hosted by the KSI Strategic Institute for Asia Pacific and other partners.

The minister said infrastructure development in Malaysia will receive a big boost from Malaysia’s 12th Plan (12MP) to help the sector revive the economy.

As the custodian of infrastructure development in Malaysia, the Ministry of Public Works also promotes the internationalization of the construction sector, in line with the objective of providing an environment conducive to economic growth and international competitiveness.

“By facilitating trade, we continue to actively participate in the development of the ASEAN Sectoral Mutual Recognition Agreement for Building and Construction Materials with nine other ASEAN members.

“Currently, there are three products identified under this Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA), namely steel rebar, glass and cement.

“The ratification of the ARM is intended to help reduce the time and costs of the import and export processes of these building materials,” he said.

Regarding the prospects for digitization, Fadillah said that the adoption of technological and innovative tools in the construction sector will further strengthen knowledge and information on the implementation of sustainable practices.

“The way the industrial revolution 4.0 is taking shape around us, the construction sites of the future will be ‘almost without humans’.

“By 2050, robots will do the heavy lifting, while cranes and autonomous excavators will be manipulated by social humanoid robots, and this is the envisioned future of the construction industry as we move towards the future. large-scale digitization within its ecosystem, ”he said.

With the expected introduction of robotic applications on construction sites by 2030, he believes that the construction industry will exponentially reshape and reshape the sector in terms of design, construction, operation and maintenance of infrastructure, real estate and other constructed assets.

Thus, strong cooperative measures between the government and the private sector are essential to ensure that the adoption and improvement of technology in the sector can be successfully implemented, he said.

“In my opinion, we now have a special opportunity to face a special set of challenges.

“Needless to say, government, industry players and various stakeholders need to synergistically converge to adopt and innovate brave new ideas to help recovery of the construction sector in Malaysia,” he added. . Bernama