extent on the development of the Pacific areas.
The industry in Australia is faced with an increasing demand for great- er output particularly in home build- ing. The industry's present labour force is not large enough, particular- ly in the skilled trades, to cope with future requirements, whilst increased costs of materials and wages exerting inflationary pressures.
are
The broad economic problems which face the industry are also the problems confronting the individual builders and contractors. A contrac- tor to survive in Australia must have adequate financial resources to en- sure the optimim quantity of capital equipment and to take advantage of the latest in technical innovations. In fact it is desirable for the Australian builder to make funds available to promote technical research.
The Australian builder needs to be a highly skilled businessman or be able to employ highly trained execu- tives. The problems involved in ten- dering for and handling multi-million pound contracts, makes it essential for a builder to possess an experienc- ed management team, if he hopes for
success.
Development of our young nation is really just beginning and an essen- tial ingredient to this development is a force of builders with skills in technique and in management, with
Japan
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Work progressing on the Sydney Opera House, due for completion in 1968 at a cost of £A17,400,000
adequate funds and with an adequate rapidly streamlining itself in all areas supply of skilled labour.
The future in Australia for contrac- tors who can match these require- ments are boundless. The industry is
and those within it look forward to a stable growth from which all Aus- tralians and their neighbours may benefit.
Closer Economic Co-operation is Our Aim
'HE Overseas Construction Associa-
tion of Japan was founded in 1955 and has among its members many of the country's leading con- struction and engineering contractors.
Main objective of the association is to foster co-operation with friendly countries and to aid them in their efforts to obtain more effective econo- mic and development programmes.
To accomplish this end, the Asso- ciation renders services in trans- mitting foreign orders to its members for building and civil engineering works and for despatching engineers and technicians. It also investigates and studies the conditions of the con- struction industry in foreign coun- tries and prepares and correlates in- formation which might lead to fur- ther economic co-operation.
The Association has a membership of about 70. Firms in all branches of the industry are represented, in- cluding road building, plumbing and heating, electrical work, reclamation and dredging, bridge building and general construction.
All the activities which the Asso- ciation undertakes are managed by
by
Kazuo Aoki President
Overseas Construction Association of Japan
the members' dues, without pursue- ing profits. However the Associa- tion is partially aided by a Govern- ment subsidy in sending study teams to various countries and settling re- sident representatives in certain areas.
Far East Architect & Builder November, 1965
Since its formation, the association has received tender notices from all over the world, mostly from the un- der-developed nations of the Far and Middle East, but also from Europe, the Americas and the Antipodes.
Nearly 50 study teams have been sent abroad over ten years. Since 1964 these teams have visited Iran, Iraq. Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, UAR, Pakistan (East), Chile, Colom- bia, Peru, Pakistan (West), Thailand and South Korea. Resident repre- sentatives have been stationed in Ran- goon, Manila and Bangkok.
seas
Associate members of the Over- Construction Association include: The Associated General Contractors of Japan; Association of Civil Engineering Contractors, Inc.: Co-operation Association of General Contractors for Electric Power De- velopment; Japan Road Contractors' Association: Nippon Plumbing and
Contractors' Heating
Association; Nippon Electrical Contractors' Asso- ciation; Reclamation and Dredging Association; Japan Consulting En- gineers' Association; and Japan Water Projects Engineering Association.
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