On June 22, 2022, the Vietnam Engineering Consultant Association (VECAS) was given the responsibility of hosting the International Webinar by the Board of the FIDIC Asia Pacific (FAP)  with the theme “Digital transformation in the construction industry”. This is also the first conference of FAP in 2022.

FIDIC President, Mr. Anthony Barry and FIDIC CEO, Dr. Nelson Ogunshakin; FAP president, Mr Sudhir Dhawan (India) attended and spoke at the conference. The Conference Moderator, Dr. Tu Duc Hoa, Vice President of VECAS and Chairman of the Events of FAP, Mr. Widhoon Chamchittrong (Thailand) giving a closing speech. The Speekes presenting at the Webinar are experts from Thailand, India, Japan, Malaysia and Vietnam as introduced by FAP Member Associations.

Welcome, Ms. Nguyen Thi Duyen – President of Vietnam Engineering Consultant Association said: In recent years, we have become so familiar with the phrases “Industrial Revolution 4.0″, ” Digital transformation”, phrases that a few years ago seemed far away and needed a lot of time just realized. But what about reality? Digital transformation is taking place in the world at a high speed, even faster driven by the COVID-19 Pandemic. Digital transformation is no longer just an opportunity but has become a mandatory requirement of all industries, fields and organizations. We are witnessing a strong digital transformation speed in many fields such as finance, banking, information technology, communication…but the largest industry, has an important role in the development and Economic growth of any country is Architecture – Engineering – Construction (AEC) seems to be facing many challenges. In the Asia-Pacific region, many countries have achieved digital transformation successes in the construction industry, while some countries (like Vietnam) are just the beginning plans. The opportunities, benefits and challenges of digital transformation in the industry need to be shared, learned from each other among FIDIC Asia Pacific region Member Associations”.

Mr. Anthony Barry, President of FIDIC, inaugural speech, shared with the conference the current focus of FIDIC in a way of thinking: global dynamics, trends and opportunities. Dr. Nelson Ogunshakin, CEO of FIDIC emphasized with FIDIC’s activities in the engineering industry, which includes datadigitization. FIDIC has established the FIDIC Digital Transformation Committee (DTC), whose primary function is to: Monitor and identify changes in the digital or technical technology to which FIDIC provides products and services in futures, such as for FIDIC contracts; Identify issues or trends in the digital space that may be potential triggers for FIDIC and its members and industry; Develop FIDIC’s value proposition for digital services in the field of technical consulting with the help of the FIDIC Secretariat and the FIDIC Board for major digital programs.

At the Webinar, the presentations by speakers from Thailand, India, Japan, Malaysia and Vietnam focused on the topics of Digital Transformation Strategy of Vietnam Construction Industry; Trends shaping and digitizing the construction industry; Perspectives on digitization in building connectivity; Artificial intelligence to solve delays; BIM and challenges in digital transformation of the Construction industry…

With the success and usefulness of the conference, FAP’s Board of Directors hopes to organize similar Webinar in 2022.