Developers asked to build greener and smarter at expo

13 Sep 2018 2113 | Business & Trade Fairs

Smart cities are taking centre stage at this year’s Cambuild expo, the biggest construction trade fair in the country, which kicked off yesterday in Phnom Penh’s Diamond Island Exhibition Centre.

This year’s Cambuild is being held under the theme ‘Innovative Green Design and Planning for Smart City’.

Speaking at the event’s grand opening yesterday, Phuoeng Sophean, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Land, highlighted the importance of the smart city concept and urged all developers, construction companies and architects working in the country to adopt it in their projects.

He said the expo will help architects, designers and developers improve their understanding of some of the techniques and technologies associated with green cities, while showcasing the latest products available in the industry.

“As we move towards the next stage of development, our focus is on making our cities more livable, connected, sustainable, safe and efficient,” Mr Sophean said.

“We have to push architects, construction companies, developers and investors to adopt the new technologies at the core of smart cities. Every country around the world is now prioritising this, and Cambodian cannot fall behind,” he said.

But technology is not the only component to smart cities, he said. A more skilled labour, more efficient and transparent institutions and better environmental protection laws are also an essential part.

Mr Sophean said the building and construction sector in Cambodia has undergone tremendous growth in the past few years. He says this growth will gather pace as the Kingdom attracts more investment from abroad.

“I hope this forum will help create more awareness among our architects and designers so that they can make our cities greener and smarter.”

Andrew Siow, director of AMB Tarsus Events Group, told Khmer Times that over 350 international companies and brands from 23 countries are taking part in Cambuild 2018 and the other events that are being held alongside it, namely Camenergy, Civar, Camsecurity, and Camwater.