Architecture & Building Services (ABS) 2023, Singapore’s three-day mega expo organised by Conference & Exhibition Management Services (CEMS) to serve the built environment industry, opened on 15 Nov 2023 at the Marina Bay Sands Expo & Convention Centre to industry leaders, trade visitors, and conference delegates.
The first of 11 conferences was officially opened by Tan Kiat How, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of National Development. Senior Minister Tan officiated the commencement of the ASEAN Federation of Electrical Engineering Contractors (AFEEC) and the Federation of Asian and Pacific Electrical Contractors Association (FAPECA) Conference 2023, themed ‘Green Technologies for Built Environment’.
Senior Minister Tan highlighted the significant demand for infrastructure in South East Asia which comes with the need for finance, skilled manpower, and adoption of advances in technology.
He also touched on the challenges Singapore faces: an ageing population, technology disruption, and climate change. To meet these challenges, he called for mutual learning and collaboration, to upskill the workforce and use technology to build more efficiently and sustainably.
After which, guest-of-honour Sun Xueling, Minister of State, Ministry of Home Affairs & Ministry of Social and Family Development, graced the official opening of the TP-SII Security Conference 2023 themed ‘Unlocking the Power of Integration: Advancing Interoperability for the Security Sector’ in the afternoon.
From 15-17 Nov, ABS 2023 will host conferences’ official opening ceremonies. Guest-of-honour Cheryl Chan, Member of Parliament, East Coast GRC, and Chairperson, GPC for National Development, officially opened the 9th International Facility & Strata Management Conference (IFSMC) 2023 on 16 November, themed ‘Sustaining Facility Management for a Resilient Built Environment’.
On the concluding day of ABS 2023, guest-of-honour Dr Amy Khor, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment, and Ministry of Transport, will officiate the opening of the WSH Forum for Waste Management Industry 2023, themed ‘WSH Matters in Waste Management’.
ABS 2023 is expected to attract an attendance of more than 8,000 visitors, exhibitors, conference delegates, and trade professionals from Singapore and the rest of the world this year.
In its 9th edition, themed ‘Designing a Safe and Resilient Built Environment’, ABS strives to establish itself as the premier gathering place to facilitate a dynamic and engaging platform for interaction between buyers and sellers. The show also hosts significant domestic and global entities in the integrated built environment sector, emphasising architecture and design, facilities management, and safety and security.
ABS presents six co-located specialised exhibitions this year: ArchXpo 2023; Design Asia 2023; International Facility Management Expo 2023 (iFaME); Fire & Disaster Asia 2023; Safety & Security Asia 2023; and Work Safe Asia 2023.
The show is also the staging ground for 11 key conferences, symposiums, and forums, all guided by specialists in the field, alongside six distinct exhibitions. Designed to address various pressing issues in the built environment sector, from obstacles and resolutions to emerging trends and innovations, these conferences serve as vital channels for delegates, industry participants, and enterprises to exchange essential knowledge to drive the industry forward.
According to Edward Liu, group managing director of CEMS: “ABS 2023 is the region’s most important platform for the built environment industry as we embrace and address the challenges of sustainability and resilience.
“With a robust lineup of 11 conferences and six curated exhibitions of cutting-edge solutions, we’re setting the stage for innovation and collaboration. It is a privilege to host such a dynamic community committed to shaping a future that is not only built to last but also designed to thrive.”
ABS 2023 is co-located with the inaugural Circular Cities Summit 1.0 from 14-15 Nov to advance the concept of circular cities and to work towards achieving the United Nations’ SDGs, with a special emphasis on Goal 11 which is making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.
Images: CEMS
