Construction & Property Development

Thailand - Builders advised to focus on branding

Source: Bangkok Post, 14 August 2010

The competitive real estate market may wear out many contractors and homebuilding companies who are struggling to survive against flourishing property developers. Yet it is not impossible for a small player to survive. Brand building, market differentiation through extended innovation and the use of social media are among the strategies advised by industry experts.

Experts agreed that the most important brand building strategy is through mouth-to-mouth which is all about service and product quality. Companies should focus on non-core customers as well as take good care of existing customers. Corporate social responsibility is one factor that a home building business cannot afford to ignore if it is seeking business sustainability.

Pakistan - German and Canadian firms expressed interests in housing sector

Source: Asia Pulse, 16 August 2010

Pakistan has welcomed the keenness of German and Canadian construction companies to invest US$8 billion in Pakistan's housing sector under Prime Minister's Housing for All Program. The Presidents of German Jiaklien Company and Canadian Stardeor called on the Minister separately and expressed their companies' willingness to participate in the construction of housing units in Pakistan.

Under the programme, one million housing units for the needy, government employees and general public on affordable cost were being constructed across the country. This large scale construction of housing units would mitigate the shelter problem of the people but also generate socio-economic activities to a great extent.

Australia - Tender prices for construction forecasted to rise

Source: The Age, 23 August 2010

Melbourne's strong construction market, which has bucked the national trend, is set to push up local tender prices in the year ahead, particularly in the industrial sector, research shows. Property consultant Rider Levett Bucknall (RLB) has forecast that tender prices in Melbourne will rise 3-4% this year due to new projects coming on to the market, particularly in retail.

Adelaide, Canberra and Darwin are also expected to rise by a similar amount. As smaller markets, a couple of big projects have a proportionately bigger impact. Tender price movements in Brisbane and Perth are tipped to decline by 1%, while in Sydney they will grow by 2%, RLB says. Fellow property consultant Davis Langdon has tipped that construction costs in Melbourne's industrial sector will rise as Melbourne's strength as a big industrial centre gains momentum.

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