KUALA LUMPUR: The Budget 2013 is expected to further boost the growth of the construction industry, said Datuk Seri Dr Judin Abd Karim, chief executive of Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB).
He said the allocation for projects under the Economic Transformation Programme, affordable housing and rural infrastructure development would ensure a stronger growth momentum for the industry and provide ample opportunities for large and small industry players.
“The RM30 billion development expenditure allocated to the economic sector for infrastructure, industrial, agriculture and rural development will ensure that the construction industry continues to grow,” he said in a statement here yesterday.
Judin said the construction industry grew by 18.9 per cent in the first half of this year, the highest growth since 1995 compared with 3.4 per cent during the same period last year.
He said the RM4.5 billion allocated for rural infrastructure development would benefit the affected rural communities and the small contractors under G1 category, which made up 50 per cent of the 66,210 registered contractors.
“Currently, they are not able to participate in huge-scale construction projects in urban areas as their paid-up capital is less than RM100,000 per company.
“By spreading out construction projects to smaller towns and rural areas, the government will be helping G1 contractors achieve business sustainability,” he said.
Judin said the allocation for vocational training would boost efforts in developing knowledgeable, creative and innovative human capital in the industry.
“The industry requires an adequate and continuous supply of local human resource and must not be too dependent on foreign labour.
“If local youths do not grab the opportunity to be trained in the specialised technical and vocational skills sought after by the industry, the lucrative job opportunities will be grabbed by foreigners,” he said. — Bernama