NS Bluescope Upbeat On Building Materials Sector Outlook

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 24 (Bernama) -- Steel product manufacturer NS Bluescope Malaysia Sdn Bhd is optimistic about the outlook for the building materials sector as demand for quality roofing solutions is expected to remain strong next year. In a statement Monday, NS Bluescope welcomes the 2017 Budget which laid out several initiatives to accelerate infrastructure projects such as the Pan Borneo Highway in Sabah and Sarawak, and the US$13.18 billion (RM55 billion) East Coast Rail Line project connecting the Klang Valley to the East Coast. "These developments in the 2017 Budget bodes well for the building materials sector, as the demand for quality roofing solutions will remain strong. "We are optimistic that the sector will continue to see growth in the coming year," it said. NS BlueScope is actively involved in several government projects, including the Mass Rapid Transit, Light Rail Transit, Kuala Krai Hospital, Link Bridge @ KL Eco City, Universiti Teknologi Mara (reroofing), as well as various projects in Pengerang and at Royal Malaysian Air Force base. On the government's proposal to allocate RM300 million under the 1Malaysia Maintenance Fund to repair facilities at flats and 113 People's Housing Projects in urban and suburban areas, NS Bluescope said the move would continue to support small and medium enterprises. On the RM350 million allocation to build and refurbish destitute and dilapidated houses in remote villages, as well as Orang Asli settlements, it said the initiative was in line with the company's corporate social responsibility programme to improve the wellbeing of the people. (US$1 = RM4.17) -- BERNAMA