Leighton Asia News, July 2005 - Leighton Holdings

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Sub-continent presents exciting opportunities by David Savage The signing in Chennai three weeks ago of our contract with Nokia for the construction of a new mobile phone manufacturing plant marked a significant milestone in Leighton’s history in Asia. About 18 months ago, as part of our strategic planning process, we identified India as one of the key markets that we had to break into if we were going to achieve our ambitious growth targets. Since then, we have done a great deal of hard work to bring this to fruition. • we opened a new office in Mumbai late last year, and this is now a fully selfsufficient operation; and • we have tendered for a number of projects in various locations throughout the country, in a variety of different disciplines. Also, Pakistan offers potential in oil and gas, and civil infrastructure projects. While we did act as project managers on a road contract in Mumbai in the late 1990s, the project for Nokia is the first of what will no doubt be many significant projects for us in India. To secure a good-sized project for a bluechip multi-national is a great start for our Indian operation. I am confident that our success on this project will lead to further work and will help to establish India as a major market for us in the future. The sub-continent contains a range of opportunities for us. In Sri Lanka, a relatively small market where we enjoy limited competition, we have identified a number of exciting prospects. Indeed, I hope to be able to announce a new project there in my next column. An artist’s impression of the new plant.
Recollections of key staff Ray Brewster Project director. With Leighton Asia since 1981 John Nash Executive director, engineering services. With Leighton Asia since 1978 C S Tsang Project director. With Leighton Asia since 1978 Paul Chung Chief Accountant. With Leighton Asia since 1978 Securing the Light Rail Transit System (LRT) in Tuen Mun for KCRC was the achievement that really put us on the map in Hong Kong. It took us into the contractors’ big league. Worth HK$1.1 billion, in terms of dollar value, it was well above anything we had undertaken at that point and it remained our largest project for many years. The LRT also continued our fruitful relationship with KCRC. My first two projects here – the Tai Po Market and Tai Wai Stations – were both for KCRC and, today, they remain a key client of ours. The LRT contract considerably broadened our work portfolio into major project management as well as foundation works, building, overhead line works and track. Of course, there were the more traditional works such as reclamation, seawalls, site formation and civil works too. As promised, completion was achieved on the 8th of the 8th, 1988; a particularly auspicious day for the Chinese. As project manager Jim Holt used to say: “We’ll open that day even if I have to push the first tram myself.” The LRT project marked our entry into sophisticated largescale contracts. It was our: > first exposure to being a leader on a large joint venture; > first major design and construct and turnkey project; and > first project with significant electrical and mechanical content. It showed the market that we were capable of undertaking projects of any size and it positioned us as a market leader – a position we have not relinquished. Also, John Faulkner’s arrival as managing director in 1988 marked the start of a controlled expansion outside of Hong Kong. Combined with the simultaneous strengthening of our management in Hong Kong – marked by Bill Wild’s appointment as Hong Kong’s general manager – this led to a significant increase in the company’s size, turnover and profit, and formed the blueprint of the company today. When I started with Leighton, the company was attracting skilled local engineers and graduates who were attracted by Leighton’s application of new technology and methods imported from Australia. This was a very exciting time to be in engineering. The Wanchai Reclamation project for the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre is a personal highlight of my 27 years with the company. Truly, I did not know how we could complete all the tasks in the very short time available. We all worked very hard on that project and were very focused. We finished ahead of schedule and we made a great return. I’m proud to say that all my projects have finished on or ahead of schedule – and always with a profit for the company. Having been with the company for over 28 years, there have obviously been many highlights. However, one really stands out for me – the Brunei airport project. This was the first project Leighton Contractors (Asia) Limited had won outside of Hong Kong, and it was the start of the company’s now broad footprint across Asia. John Nash and I were sent down there for the duration of the project, and it was a tremendous success. It was very rewarding personally, because it showed that the company was prepared to give opportunities to local staff; and that, even though we were working for an international company, there were clear opportunities for career advancement. page 11
Page 1 and 2: Leighton Asia News July 2005
Page 3 and 4: Changing of the guard • Will Hami
Page 5 and 6: Named the Zhong Ren 703, it needed
Page 7 and 8: Sewer project meets the challenges
Page 9: Above: The Leighton team. Right: Th
Page 17 and 18: Leighton Asia was established in Ho
Page 19 and 20: Construction Company was aimed at i
Page 21 and 22: Leighton on track for increased pro
Page 23 and 24: More telco work in Malaysia DiGi Te
Page 25 and 26: The award-winners line up. Leighton
Page 27: An artist’s impression of the new

Leighton Asia News, July 2005 - Leighton Holdings

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