KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s construction and sub-contractor industries must expand beyond domestic borders and actively tap opportunities in the wider ASEAN region and India to remain competitive, said ASEAN India Economic Council (AIEC) Malaysia chairman Datuk Ramesh Kodammal.
He said the upcoming Malaysia Construction and Building Materials Expo and Malaysia Power and Electricity Expo, to be held in conjunction with Subcon 2026, a specialised sub-contractor industry exhibition and conference, would serve as a regional platform to strengthen industry collaboration, particularly between Malaysian and Indian players.
"This will be one of the biggest exhibitions of the year, with a strong focus on the construction, building materials, power, and electricity sectors,” he said during the media launch of the exhibitions in a statement issued to Bernama.
Ramesh said the exhibitions, which will take place on Feb 11-12 at World Trade Centre (WTC) here, would be co-located with Subcon 2026, which he said "will specifically focus on strengthening Malaysia’s sub-contractor industry.”
He stressed the importance of positioning Malaysia as a regional hub, noting that the platform would open opportunities for collaboration with Indian counterparts, underpinned by the long-standing bilateral relationship between the two countries.
He said the relationship between the two countries, dating back to India’s independence in 1947 and Malaysia’s independence in 1957, has since evolved into a strong bilateral partnership that should now be translated into deeper industry cooperation.
Ramesh also urged industry players to move beyond traditional construction activities, saying the sub-contractor sector must adapt to changing industry demands.
"The construction and sub-contractor industries must now look beyond traditional activities such as plumbing, cementing, and road construction, and focus on security, advanced technologies, financial collaboration, and new business models,” he said.
He called on sub-contractors to "aggressively build new industry connections, explore joint ventures, engage new partners, and adopt innovative financial arrangements to move forward collectively.”
Through the exhibition initiative, he said the aim is to strengthen the Malaysian Sub-Contractors Association (MSCA) as a powerful platform while linking various regional and international associations.
He also invited industry players to actively participate in the exhibitions, engage with exhibitors and delegates from India, China, Turkiye, Thailand and other countries, and build stronger networks for the future of the sub-contractor industry.
Meanwhile, MSCA president Chandra L Ramprakash said concerns among sub-contractors about associating with the association are being addressed through the introduction of a verified contractor system.
He said MSCA has implemented a verification process in which members undergo thorough profile checks, including their financial background, workforce capability, and operational credibility, before being granted verified status.
The Malaysia Construction and Building Materials Expo and the Malaysia Power and Electricity Expo are supported by the AIEC and the Malaysia International Business Council, while Subcon 2026 is organised by MSCA.
The public can obtain further details about the exhibitions from their websites at https://www.malaysiaconstructandbuild.com and https://www.malaysiapowerandelectric.com. - Bernama
