BK International Inc was on Friday presented with the President’s Award for Innovation in the Building and Construction Industry for its newest creation; a tile made from sawdust and epoxy.
The company received the award from President Bharrat Jagdeo during the opening of the second International Building Expo held at the Providence Stadium, East Bank Demerara.
Chief Executive Officer of the Central Planning and Housing Authority, Myrna Pitt, told the gathering that the vibrancy in the housing sector continues to stimulate the growth of the construction industry. She said this saw an expansion of companies and the establishment of new ones within the building and construction industry.
It was in recognition of the positive direction in which the industry is heading, she said that Jagdeo declared that there is need for this dynamism to be supported by more emphasis on research and development.
It is as a result of this that the award was announced as a new initiative of Building Expo 2011.
Pitt said the award aims at stimulating the construction industry; improving efficiency; providing an environment for creativity and innovation; increasing competitiveness as well as contributing positively to the advancement of the country and by extension, consumers would also benefit by having access to cost effective reliable and sustainable product.
She said companies were invited to participate in this initiative for the development of a product that must be commercially viable and of innovative design. Another criterion was that the product had to be made with local materials or be the subject of construction related research.
Entries were received, Pitt said, from Bulkan Timber Works, which submitted a pre fabricated house; National Hardware, which submitted decorative pavers; the Institute of Applied Science and Technology (IAST), which submitted some pressed clay blocks and BK.
She said the entries were evaluated by a panel drawn from the private sector, based on originality, innovation, productivity and efficiency, sustainability, relevance and capability. It was based on these things that BK was adjudged the winner for producing the innovative product, Pitt said.
Three representatives later received the award on behalf of the company from Jagdeo who tested a sample of the product they had brought.
