Singapore: International design, engineering and risk management consultancy group BMT says it expects the Asian share of its global business to roughly quadruple from its current 8-10% of group turnover within the next five years or so.
"World activity is massively centered in Asia and by 2020 we expect 80% of world throughput here," adds David Wignall, Head of Ports and Logistics for BMT Group. "If you seriously want to be in the maritime field, you had better be in Asia!"
Part of BMT's Asian strategy is grow local capability and most of the 70-odd staff in its Singapore office, opened one year ago, are from the region itself. The group also has established offices in Hong Kong and Shanghai, from where it is currently involved in advising on ship design and technology in projects at a handful of Chinese yards, as well as consultancy in the ports and logistics sectors. Wignall believes that strong growth patterns in all these areas will "require a significant increase in professional knowledge to ensure the viability of long term investments."
Turning to India, Wignall outlines to Seatrade Asia Online his belief that "India's estimated US$15 billion investment in new ports and transportation infrastructure calls for urgent access to highly specialised skills and technical know-how. The BMT model of providing services throughout the life cycle of the transportation asset brings significant benefits to our customers."
BMT set up an Indian subsidiary, BMT Consultants (India) Pvt Ltd, last year with offices in Mumbai and Ahmadabad. It has already worked for a host of marine and logistics sector players including DP World, Adani, Shell, Shapoorji Pallonji and All Cargo, as well as investors such as SBI, IDFC, IL&FS and Eredene Capital. Among other things, the Group is helping to look at how to ease bottlenecks within ports and to help decide what infrastructure is needed and at what pace it must develop.
Meanwhile, in the Middle East BMT's Ports and Logistics division is involved in the business planning for a major new offshore port development near Abu Dhabi in the UAE, which will form part of a new $2.5bn multi-user port and adjacent 9,900 hectare Industrial Zone. It is proposed that current activities at the Mina Zayed Port in Abu Dhabi will be relocated there some time after 2010. [21/11/07]
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