Singapore And China Step Up Collaboration In Environmental Services Sector

Jiangsu and Singapore to jointly step up promotion of opportunities in northern coastal cities and deepen collaboration in environmental services sector.

• 3rd Singapore-Jiangsu Cooperation Council (SJCC) meeting convened in Wuxi, Jiangsu today.

• Multi-party Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed by eight Singapore-based and foreign companies to take part in Singapore-Nanjing Eco High-Tech Island project.

Singapore investors should explore the potential of northern coastal cities such as Lianyungang, Yancheng and Nantong in view that the Jiangsu Coastal Development Plan has just been endorsed as a national strategy by China’s Central Government. In addition, Singapore and Jiangsu should step up engagement to deepen their cooperation in environmental services, to speed up Jiangsu’s upgrading of its water treatment facilities and the longer-term conservation of Lake Tai（太湖）. The high profile bilateral collaboration on Nanjing’s Jiangxinzhou（江心洲）, the Singapore-Nanjing Eco Hi-tech Island, which held its groundbreaking in May this year, achieved great strides with the signing of two MOUs involving potential investors and partners.

These were the highlights of the third SJCC meeting held in Wuxi today. The Council meets on an annual basis to review its annual work report and discuss its workplan for the new year. For the 2010 workplan, the Council decided to continue its focus on the six key areas, namely i) trade and economic; ii) environmental services; iii) vocational and technical education, and education exchanges; iv) tourism; v) science and technology and vi) training of Jiangsu officials.

The meeting was co-chaired by Mr Khaw Boon Wan, Minister for Health and Mr Liang Baohua, Jiangsu Party Secretary. International Enterprise (IE) Singapore is the Singapore secretariat for the SJCC. After the meeting, the Vice Co-Chairmen of the SJCC, Mr Lee Yi Shyan, Minister of State (MOS) for Trade & Industry and Manpower, and Mr Zhang Weiguo, Jiangsu Vice Governor, signed the notes of meeting as conclusion of the third council meeting. (Please refer to Annexes 1 and 2 for speeches by Minister Khaw and MOS Lee at the meeting)

Said Minister Khaw, “The council has made remarkable progress this year, despite the global economic slowdown. The rapid progress of the Nanjing Jiangxinzhou project is symbolic of our strong bilateral cooperation. Moving forward, we will step up three approaches. One, mutual collaboration in sustainable green development, especially in water treatment and other environmental services. Two, identify integrated multi-sector projects to scale up benefits of collaboration. Three, seek partnership opportunities in the Jiangsu Coastal Development Plan.

“Notably, Jiangsu places high priority on the quality of water and its conservation of Lake Tai. Singapore companies can contribute our strengths in technologies and management of water treatment plants. We are exploring undertaking demonstration projects in selected Jiangsu cities using a Public-Private-Partnership approach. In addition, the Jiangxinzhou project is very promising and I hope more Singapore companies can participate in this iconic development,” he added.

Following the council meeting, Minister Khaw, MOS Lee, Party Secretary Liang, Vice Governor Zhang Weiguo and Mr Sam Tan, Parliamentary Secretary for Trade & Industry and Information, Communications & the Arts witnessed the following:

• Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signing between Singapore Intelligent Eco Island Development Pte Ltd and eight Singapore-based and foreign companies – Under this MOU, the Singapore-Nanjing Eco High-Tech Island Joint Venture company will render support, such as provision of timely information and organisation of site visits for these companies to explore partnership opportunities in the project. These companies cover a wide spectrum of sectors including environmental services, infocomm technology and education. They are Singapore-based companies ST Engineering (ST Electronics, ST Kinetics, STSE), Etonhouse International, G-energy Global and AVI Tech Electronics; and foreign companies GREAT, Ivy Group, (Hong Kong) Leaderank Limited and Suzhou Industrial Park Neighbourhood Centre Development Company Ltd. (Please refer to media release by Singapore Intelligent Eco Island Development Pte Ltd)

• Agreement signing between Singapore Intelligent Eco Island Development Pte Ltd and the Bank of China, ICBC and Bank of Shanghai to extend RMB 7.2 billion credit line to the Singapore-Nanjing Eco High-Tech Island Joint Venture company. (Please refer to media release by Singapore Intelligent Eco Island Development Pte Ltd)

• Strategic cooperation agreement signing between Hyflux and Bank of Jiangsu – Over the next three years, the Bank of Jiangsu will provide up to RMB three billion worth of financing facilities to Hyflux and its associated companies to support their investment and operational needs in China, especially Jiangsu province. (Please refer to Hyflux’s media release)

Key areas of collaboration for 2010
Supporting multi-sector collaboration projects
The global financial crisis, albeit recovering, has affected China’s coastal cities and many are undergoing industrial upgrading and economic restructuring to seek new growth. As they move away from low-end manufacturing towards modern services, Singapore companies can share relevant expertise in areas like urban solutions, transport and logistics, education, infocomm technology and more. In particular, Singapore has strengths in providing integrated solutions. The Singapore-Nanjing Eco High-Tech Island, a commercially-driven project facilitated under the ambit of the SJCC and supported by IE Singapore, and the Jiangsu and Nanjing governments, is a good example. The MOU signed today is a committed effort by the joint venture company to bring in diverse expertise and capabilities from different Singapore and foreign enterprises.

Environmental services top focus area
The challenge to raise the standards of water quality in Jiangsu, especially the pollution facing Lake Tai, is a key concern of the province. Singapore is able to share relevant experience from both the government and private sector aspect as our water shortage has brought about the nation’s four taps[1] to ensure sustainable water supply. In the process, the Public-Private-Partnership approach adopted has equipped Singapore companies with niche capabilities and high-tech water treatment solutions, which can potentially contribute to Jiangsu’s conservation efforts to clean up the water catchment and raise the quality of the drinking water. Singapore’s leading environmental services company, Hyflux Ltd is already in talks with the Suzhou authorities to explore the feasibility of a water treatment demonstration project in Suzhou.

The General Office of Lake Taihu Water Pollution Prevention and Control has also outlined 1,600 projects with investments totalling RMB 108.3 billion (around S$22 billion[2]) to alleviate the pollution problem at the lake（江苏省太湖流域水环境综合治理实施方案）. This could open up new opportunities for mutual Singapore-Jiangsu collaboration in the environmental services industry.

Cooperation in tandem with Jiangsu Coastal Development Plan
The Jiangsu Coastal Development Plan was recently elevated to a national-level strategy by the Central Government in June 2009. Covering the three northern Jiangsu cities of Lianyungang, Yancheng and Nantong, the plan will leverage the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) to service Central and Western China and to open up to Central Asia markets. This strategy will also capitalise the rich resources of the northern Jiangsu coastal cities and help level up the growth of these cities with the booming southern cities. The strategy will therefore open up new opportunities, particularly in areas such as master-planning, ports and logistics, urban solutions, etc, which Singapore companies are strong in.

Good progress achieved over the past year
The SJCC has continuously put in efforts to deepen bilateral economic ties. Besides the Singapore-Nanjing Eco High-Tech Island, some highlights include Sembcorp’s opening of its Zhangjiagang phase two wastewater treatment plant in May this year. Its phase three will see a recycling plant being developed. CrimsonLogic also clinched a consultancy service for the first phase masterplanning of the Jiangsu e-Ports project in June this year, while Etonhouse International opened its first preschool in Nanjing Jianye district in August.

In addition, the Council has helped to promote collaborations beyond economic and trade arenas. More than six tourism-related activities were held over the past year for officials, students and businesses for exchanges. Training for Jiangsu officials on topics such as industrial park management, port and logistics, and environmental services was also conducted regularly. Since the Suzhou Industrial Park cooperation that started 15 years ago, more than 2,000 Jiangsu officials have been trained in Singapore.

Activities during the mission
Minister Khaw and MOS Lee are currently in Jiangsu province with a 73-strong delegation organised by IE Singapore. The delegation includes Parliamentary Secretary Sam Tan, 53 representatives from 34 companies and 20 officials from the Ministry of Trade & Industry, IE Singapore, Singapore Tourism Board, Infocomm Development Authority and Building & Construction Authority.

They have called on Jiangsu Party Secretary Liang Baohua, Jiangsu Governor Luo Zhijun and Suzhou Party Secretary Jiang Hongkun over the past three days. The entourage also took part in the 15th anniversary celebrations of the Wuxi-Singapore Industrial Park today (Please refer to media release by Sembcorp). Tomorrow, Minister Khaw, MOS Lee and Parliamentary Secretary Sam Tan will be in Shanghai to grace the Shanghai World Expo 2010 Singapore Pavilion topping out ceremony（封顶仪式）. MOS Lee will also officiate at the groundbreaking ceremony of Yanlord’s Shanghai New Jiangwan Urban Area Land （上海新江湾地块）in Pudong. On 27 November morning, MOS Lee and Parliamentary Secretary Sam Tan will attend the SSBA-SCS 5th Business Forum titled “China, The next Leap”. The trip began on 23 November 2009 and will end on 27 November 2009.

About International Enterprise Singapore

International Enterprise (IE) Singapore is an agency under the Ministry of Trade and Industry spearheading the development of Singapore’s external economic wing.

Our mission is to promote the overseas growth of Singapore-based enterprises and international trade. With a global network in over 30 locations and our 3C framework of assistance – Connections, Competency, Capital, we offer services to help enterprises export, develop business capabilities, find overseas partners and enter new markets. At the same time, we work to position Singapore as a base for foreign businesses to expand into the region in partnership with Singapore-based companies.

Please visit www.iesingapore.com for more information.

About Singapore-Jiangsu Cooperation Council

The Singapore-Jiangsu Cooperation Council (SJCC) was officially launched on 1 November 2007. Mr Khaw Boon Wan, Singapore Minister for Health and Mr Liang Baohua, Jiangsu Party Secretary are Co-Chairmen of the Council. Mr Lee Yi Shyan, Minister of State for Trade & Industry and Manpower, and Mr Zhang Weiguo, Jiangsu Vice Governor, assumed the positions of the Vice Co-Chairmen of SJCC and are assisting the two Chairmen in work relating to the council.

The Council aims to promote cooperation between Singapore and Jiangsu Province beyond economic areas, including training, tourism and education exchanges. It is formed by political leaders, government officials and private sector representatives from Singapore and Jiangsu.

The scope of cooperation shall include:

• Regular high-level bilateral government official visits and exchange activities between the business communities of Singapore and Jiangsu.

• Exchanging economic data and information to promote and guide bilateral trade and investment.

• Resolving difficulties encountered in collaborative projects, establishing an excellent cooperation mechanism and an environment conducive for cooperation.

• Other forms of work which are beneficial for economic and social development.

Topics: bilateral collaboration, China, economic development, economic growth, Economy, environment, Environmental Services Sector, foreign companies, Governance, investment, Jiangsu, Lake Tai, memorandum of understanding, MOU, norther coastal cities, Sinapore Nanjing Eco High Tech Island Project, Singapore Jiangsu Cooperation Council, SJCC, water treatment, Wuxi

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