Can India bite into the $ 680-billion EPC market?

The Government has recognised that the economy is suffering and needs a strong booster dose - placebos just won't work. Today, all the ministers are brainstorming over revitalising the economy. For our part, CONSTRUCTION WORLD, along with Foundation of Infrastructure Research Studies Training (FIRST), took up the challenge and presented Union Minister of Commerce &amp; Industry Suresh Prabhu with solutions to inject adrenaline into the economy. The overall intent is evident: bring in foreign exchange, enhance employment, contribute taxes and plan for long-term positive development for the country. <p></p> <p>One of our solutions is to strategise to attract the 'engineering research and design' industry to India. This $ 680-billion industry is projected to move $ 170 billion - 25 per cent of total revenues - to Asia. Companies like Bechtel, AmecFoster &amp; Wheeler, Black &amp; Veatch and others are based in India, employing thousands of engineers creating engineering designs for complex multibillion infrastructure projects around the globe. This brings in foreign exchange, tax payments and employment. In fact, India has a talent pool of nearly 500,000 engineers graduating every year; such companies can help boost their skill sets and hone them as worthy assets for the country's future technical talent pool. The stakes are high-$ 170 billion as mentioned above - and India should stake a claim. Back home, we have such skill sets in public-sector companies like Engineers India, RITES, IRCON, MECON, Engineering Projects, WAPCOS, and so on. Going forward, our EPC companies can create SPVs with such projects to forge future alliances as the home infrastructure market opens up to these global giants from the design and engineering space.</p> <p>Our recent exercise in analysing India's Fastest Growing Construction Companies has thrown up new names into the orbit that have grown geometrically over the past three years. These have shot to challenge the erstwhile fastest growing companies, indicating that new money has found its way to supporting companies that do not carry 'legacy baggage'. Our jury comprising India's top three rating companies debated the merits of excluding companies on grounds of questionable governance practices; therefore, some companies had to miss their spot of glory. This issue, bearing an element of surprise, we also present the nominees of this exercise. In our view, to be nominated is an important milestone in itself.</p> <p>Early this year, CONSTRUCTION WORLD launched a new logo that intended to depict the increase in mechanisation, scale of infrastructure projects, project management expertise and adoption of technology. After scouring over the responses and suggestions received, we have conceded that our old logo stands tall with its leadership image well-entrenched in the minds of our readers and followers! Therefore, we have decided to bring it back amid the festivities of the month. On behalf of the entire team, I wish you all Happy Diwali and a prosperous new year!</p>