Bluescope Steel Malaysia, foresees the steel industry in 2013 to be buoyed by domestic demand in 2013, with the construction sector expected to grow by 11.2 per cent as announced in the recent budget.
BlueScope Steel Malaysia comprising BlueScope Steel Sdn Bhd BlueScope Lysaght Malaysia Sdn Bhd, BlueScope Lysaght (Sabah) Sdn Bhd and BlueScope (Sarawak) Sdn Bhd is part of BlueScope Steel Limited, Australia.
In a statement, Bluescope Steel Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei President, Somkiat Pintatham said with the Economic Transformation Program gearing Malaysia towards a fully developed nation by 2020, it had been forecast that the steel industry will be critical in contributing some 6.5 per cent Gross Domestic Product and a 225,000 strong workforce.
He added that "We are committed to supporting the government in raising the steel standards, and investing to increase skilled labour to further elevate the industry up the value chain. We have also observed a growing demand amongst developers and builders for more sustainable buildings, which bodes well for the well being of the environment and general society.”
Mr Pintatham said the industry had seen some strong support from the government and cited the mooted National Steel Policy as a step in the right direction.
