KUCHING: The first ever International Construction Week (ICW) Borneo 2025 reflects Sarawak’s commitment in driving innovation, infrastructure, and sustainability.
Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi said the event reflected Malaysia’s commitment to inclusive growth, fair development, and East Malaysia’s growing role in innovation, infrastructure, and sustainability.
He also noted that with Malaysia set to assume the Asean Chairmanship in 2025, starting the journey in Borneo signals the region’s strategic role in shaping the country’s future infrastructure plans.
“The Ministry of Works, through CIDB Malaysia, is committed to transforming Malaysia’s construction sector into one that is resilient, digital, and ESG-aligned.
“As Minister of Works, I am deeply committed to ensuring that Sarawak and Sabah are integral to our national construction development strategy.
“We are moving with purpose—through the National Construction Policy 2030 the Construction 4.0 Strategic Plan, and cross-sector initiatives to accelerate BIM and IBS adoption, drive digitalisation and smart infrastructure planning, build industry-wide capacity through training, reskilling, and inclusive participation and to foster public-private partnerships that deliver long-term impact.
“I commend CIDB Malaysia, under the leadership of Zainora Zainal, for actively expanding its reach in East Malaysia through training programmes, regulatory support, and capacity-building,” he said.
He said this during the International Construction Week (ICW) Borneo 2025 at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) on Tuesday (May 13).
On a related note, Nanta said that the conference serves as more than just an industry gathering and more to a strategic meeting of experts, markets and ideas.
The two-day programme offers more than discussions as it provides clear direction for the future of construction and focuses on exploring how construction can adapt to challenges such as climate change, rapid urbanisation, and technological disruption.
“ICW has long been a platform for showcasing industry excellence, bringing together key players to explore new ideas and technologies. But ICW Borneo 2025, themed ‘Innovative Construction for a Sustainable Future’, marks a new chapter.
“We are here to explore how construction can be reimagined in the face of climate change, rapid urbanisation, technological disruption, and the urgent call for sustainable development across Southeast Asia,” he said.
He noted that over 600 participants, including industry players, contractors, suppliers, and academic representatives, have gathered for this landmark event, which provides a platform for international collaboration and the exchange of knowledge.
“Experts can exchange experiences, knowledge, and so on. This is because the construction industry is the only industry that is highly dynamic.
“It constantly changes, especially in the modern era, with regards to digitalisation and technology as well as science,” he said.
He expressed hope that the success of this year’s event would encourage CIDB to organise the Borneo edition again next year, possibly in Kota Kinabalu as well as Kalimantan.
