India looks to build 100 smart cities – PwC talks about investment opportunities

MUMBAI, India - Sept. 1, 2014 - PRLog -- With the new government’s promise to aggressively promote affordable housing the economy is set to be back on track and raise the plummeting GDP to 8-9%. The new government is expected to infuse life into the existing policies and remove major bottlenecks that are deterring growth. Foreign direct investment (FDI) in the Indian real estate sector is expected to get a lift, resulting in amplification of fund flows.

As India also looks to build 100 smart cities to boost economic development, Mr. Dushyant Singh, Strategy Associate Director- PwC cites “While significant investment would be required for creation of 100 smart cities, the allocation announced in the budget is a step in the right direction. As India’s urban population grows, and economic activity expands, investment in urban areas becomes imperative. Urban planning needs to leverage technology to improve quality of life and delivery of public services, while optimizing resources. Investment in smart cities will create opportunities for both infrastructure and technology companies.”

Smart city projects are underway in many parts of the world, but in populous India where very little work has been done in the domain, the opportunities appear boundless. The country’s only international construction exhibition- ‘The Big 5 Construct India 2014’, to be held in Mumbai from 11th September to 13th September, 2014 at the Bombay Exhibition Centre is an unprecedented opportunity to be part of the big change.

“We want to ensure that all visitors gain relevant industry knowledge and get the opportunity to interact with our elite panel of speakers,” said Mr. Muhammed Kazi, Senior Project Manager, The Big 5 Construct India.

Green and sustainable construction techniques are vital to the future of the industry across the world and The Big 5 Construct India will have presentations on the LEED ratings system, including how to comply alongside real-world examples of successful building projects.

The growth of the industry in India will be another key focus of the seminars and there will be speakers looking at how India can attract and retain key staff as well as the challenges the sector faces meeting new government legislation.

Mohammed Al Afari VP, Marketing at Emirates Steel shares, “The Big 5 India was a key element of his company’s growth. He said: “The Big 5 Construct India has offered us many opportunities in the past and this time we also plan to showcase all our range of products for visitors to view. It’s an event that is growing every year in a market poised for exceptional growth in the present decade and it is very good business to be present there.”

This year’s educational events are all free to attend and certified, they include:

1)    Imperatives for sustainable growth in the construction industry seminar series
11 – 13 September

2)    Introduction to LEED v4 concepts & strategies workshop
11 September

3)    LEED v4 for building design & construction workshop
12 September

4)    Project management workshop
12 September

5)    IIA seminar
13 September

6)    The role of green products and their parameters presented by GRIHA
13 September

7)    From quality to sustainability of building materials presented by ICMQ
13 September

8)    20+ years of proven performance in structural glazing presented by Dow Corning

13 September

9)    Working at height presented by Total Safety Solutions

13 September

The time horizon for these investments may be pushed out by a year or two, but the outlook is definitely positive. The stated intent of the new Government, to focus on de-bottlenecking existing projects, and promote new investment, is a positive factor for the sector. Measures to channel a higher proportion of domestic savings into the sector will be important, as will the ability to attract foreign investment.