The construction industry is experiencing an unprecedented level of approvals – which means an unprecedented level of opportunities for designers, architects and suppliers in 2018.

Over the past few months, Australia has logged near record-breaking increases in the number of building approvals – and, according to Australia’s leading economists, this boom is only set to grow more pronounced throughout 2018.

Last week, the Australian Bureau of Statistics released the latest figures that showed a near unprecedented increase in new dwelling approvals, with November logging the largest monthly increase in nearly a year.

More significantly, private sector approvals breezed past expectations to reach a massive 20 percent increase over the month. And while residential projects are reported to be up by 15 percent against a year ago, the value of non-residential projects – such as those in the commercial and hospitality sectors – is up 27 percent.

As ANZ senior economist Daniel Gradwell told The Australian, “We [expect] approvals will continue to trend higher over the near to medium term, albeit with volatility from month to month. It seems clear to us that any fears of weaker dwelling construction in 2018 are misplaced.”

“The strength of non-residential construction follows a decade of almost zero growth through to the end of 2016,” writes David Uren, economics editor at The Australian.

“The recovery has been led by new office projects, which are attracting strong foreign investment, but also a big lift in building projects being proposed in the education, health and aged care and industrial sectors,” he says.

In this boom landscape, it makes more sense than ever for suppliers to keep their brands and products at the forefront of the A&D media and events circuit. As ever, this kind of exposure remains crucial to reaching the industry’s key decision makers.

Just in time for this boom year of construction, the leading A&D brand in the entire Asia-Pacific region, Indesign Media Asia Pacific, is launching a first-of-its-kind specifier event for the commercial and hospitality sectors. Launching in August 2018, FRONT will bring together the world’s leading decision makers in these sectors into a single location.

Slated to become the most important annual event in the region’s A&D calendar, this exclusive and highly targeted exhibition is a rare opportunity to access to key knowledge and networking opportunities – crucial for getting your commercial and hospitality projects off the ground.

Indesign Media Asia Pacific has been orchestrating international events for over two decades, and, as a result, has cultivated a network of people and knowledge that is unrivalled in the industry.

FRONT is a world-first event that will bring together all of the tools in Indesign Media’s arsenal, giving attendees direct access to the most powerful global decision makers and their invaluable knowledge alongside most innovative new technologies and products on the market.

On top of these priceless networking opportunities, one of the most powerful aspects of FRONT is its format. To be held in a single location across two days, the exhibition space itself has been purpose-designed to bring together every link in the supply chain – from developers to specifiers to end-users – to ensure that the targeted handful of carefully selected exhibitors (limited to 70) will have their products seen by the exact people who have the power to get projects off the ground.

Further to this, the event will be backed up by a custom-designed matchmaking platform that will allow complete transparency in the guest list. Registered attendees will have exclusive access to this platform, which will allow them to pre-book meetings and networking opportunities in advance with the people that matter.

Rather than a one-off networking opportunity, FRONT’s impact extends well beyond two days. The connections formed here have the very real potential to grow into profitable business relationships that open doors well into the future.

For more information, go to www.front.design