28 August 2023
Under the Radar: Behind our flats and apartments – Straits Construction’s COO weighs in on construction woes, company’s focus on public projects; Impact of material costs on bottom lines; Manpower shortages on progress payments; Pre-pandemic contracts; Demand for construction by public sector
Today we’re going to talk about the people behind the flats and apartments we live in – the people building our homes that is.
Construction firms, as we know, have been hit by supply chain disruptions and a manpower crunch during the pandemic.
While things are looking up as work resumes and supply chain bottlenecks ease, industry players continue to face challenges such as working with pre-pandemic contracts that do not account for higher material costs.
So how are construction companies navigating choppy waters, and how are they adjusting their business strategy to remain financially viable?
Let’s pose these questions to our guest Straits Construction. Starting small in 1969, Straits Construction is a builder that got its first breakthrough in 1982, when it built its first Housing and Development Board of HDB project at Serangoon Avenue 4.
Since then, the firm has taken on more public and private projects. Some past projects include the Royal Square at Novena, which houses Courtyard by Marriot Hotel.
On Under the Radar, Drive Time’s finance presenter Chua Tian Tian caught up with Kenneth Loo, Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer, Straits Construction Singapore for more.

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