Countries across Asia are launching infrastructure programmes to stimulate growth and build a base for the future. New financing initiatives, including the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and China’s Belt & Road Initiative (BRI), were introduced to meet the growing needs of the region.
This in turn presents tremendous growth and investment opportunities. Expertise in project development, technical expertise, as well as financing and advisory services is in great demand. This is especially prevalent in emerging markets. Singapore companies are well-placed to utilise Singapore’s infrastructure ecosystem as a springboard to share their expertise with the region.
The Belt & Road Initiative (BRI), also known as One Belt, One Road, refers to an ambitious development strategy that the Chinese government launched in 2013. This plan aims to connect an estimated 4.4 billion people across the Asian and European region by building infrastructure and boosting financial and trade ties for the countries that lie along the land and maritime trade routes.
India Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration has prioritised transforming urban hubs into smart cities. With a total of 98 smart cities planned to cater to the country’s 1.32 billion population, the proposed affordable homes, urban solutions and new railway corridors offer attractive growth prospects for global investors as India undergoes urbanisation and industrialisation.
As energy usage continues to climb, cities face the increasing challenge of reducing their carbon footprints while generating sufficient energy that is affordable for residents. Singapore adopted two strategies: increasing energy efficiency and developing the use of clean energy.
From centralised district-level cooling to low emissivity (low-e) glass for the numerous buildings dotting our skyline, Singapore is constantly exploring new measures to reduce energy consumption and dependence on fossil fuels. Our expertise in this area will be relevant to countries that will inevitably require more buildings and facilities.
Singapore also actively promotes the development of clean energy, such as solar and wind power. Our strong emphasis on research and development (R&D) has allowed the industry to constantly improve and provide value-added solutions for the region.
Why partner Singapore?
With a population of over five million people living on just 719km2 of land and no natural resources, Singapore has plenty of experience in developing innovative solutions to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and greenhouse gases.
We have a vibrant ecosystem of Singapore-based companies that have developed a strong reputation for their ability and expertise in clean energy. This ranges from developers and financiers to system integrators. For instance, Singapore companies such as Sunseap and Sembcorp develop, own and operate renewable and thermal power projects globally. They have the significant experience in structuring complex deals for international financing.
Singapore has a number of research institutes dedicated to clean energy. They include the new CleanTech Park at Jalan Bahar, the Solar Energy Research Institute of Singapore (SERIS) and the Energy Research Institute@NTU (ERI@N). For instance, Singapore firms have built management systems that utilise real-time data monitoring to optimise energy storage.
The demand for urban infrastructure and solutions is both surging and changing. Information and communications technology (ICT) infrastructure has gained priority, as connectivity is critical to urban residents. Together with advances in sensor technology and data analytics, a global smart city movement has begun.
The large amount of data collected in a connected city help decision makers take insightful action to plan or rejuvenate urban spaces. Relying on real-time data, planners can better manage the city’s resources. Architects, developers and construction companies can manage their projects more efficiently through iterative modelling and value analysis before even laying a stone. Data analytics has also given rise to predictive maintenance, enhancing the productivity of facilities management. Singapore is embracing the digital age through our Smart Nation Initiative. Extensive connectivity, along with infrastructure and common technical architecture, enables citizens, businesses and government agencies to tap technology to improve lives.
Singapore consistently tops global rankings for liveability, city management and engagement with citizens. Singapore companies are also gaining a reputation for planning, building and managing smart cities.
Singapore is one of the most forward-looking countries in Asia-Pacific and constantly applies the latest technologies to enhance citizens’ lives. To co-create the desired living conditions, the Municipal Services Office provides a mobile app, OneService, to collect feedback from citizens on public infrastructure and estate management.
Besides the Smart Nation Initiative, Singapore has a number of agencies and research institutes dedicated to smart city research. The Centre for Liveable Cities; NUS Smart Buildings, Smart Cities & Internet of Things (IoT) Lab; and the Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology are three examples of Singapore’s commitment in driving and contributing to smart city developments.
Today, Singapore is one of Asia’s premier tourist destinations for leisure as well as business events. Choose from a range of award-winning Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Events (MICE) venues that offer unique event spaces to plan the perfect event. We also have a vast array of tourist attractions and play host to world-class events like the Formula One Grand Prix. Supported by excellent air and sea connectivity, and a world-class hospitality sector, the vibrant and dynamic city-state is regarded as an excellent location not just for work, but also play.
As technology is transforming the tourism landscape, Singapore has swiftly embraced the concept of smart tourism to reach out to travellers of a new age. Singapore companies have developed and utilised travel technologies to target tourists and curate new experiences.
Singapore hospitality and tourism companies combine Western-style management systems with Asian-style products and services, creating a unique blend of modern practices and the latest technologies with rich Asian traditions.
Boasting world-class facilities, accommodation and service providers, Singapore consistently ranks among the world’s top meeting cities. With a strong track record in hosting international events, Singapore companies are able to license and manage global intellectual property (IPs) to enrich the branding, content and entertainment value of tourism projects.
Consumption defines most developed societies. Together with the wave of globalisation and increasing consumerism in cities, this has resulted in an increasing need to develop advanced waste management systems to ensure a sustainable management of resources.
Singapore’s experience in cost-effective and value-added waste management systems has allowed it to develop customised solutions to meet the needs of clients in countries such as China and Qatar.
Singapore companies provide sustainable waste management solutions every step of the way. This includes collection and recycling, waste treatment, energy recovery and landfill management.
With its limited land area and dense population, Singapore has developed an efficient system for the collection and disposal of waste while minimising land use. We have also introduced this system internationally. Our firms can build and operate facilities across the world that extract resources, such as metals from electronic waste.
With a rise in population, access to water supplies and distribution grids in cities become increasingly scarce and expensive. Singapore experienced this problem in our early years, and pursued innovative solutions and strategies to ensure clean and affordable water for residents. Today, Singapore’s water management strategy is diversified into “four national taps”:
Singapore complements this strategy with a well-maintained transmission and distribution network to minimise non-revenue water losses. This ensures that resources are prudently managed.
As a densely populated city with limited freshwater resources, Singapore has plenty of experience in developing innovative solutions to meet its water management needs. The technological solutions developed by our water companies are now used worldwide in water treatment, wastewater treatment, desalination and water recycling.
Singapore-based companies have the expertise to provide comprehensive and sustainable water management solutions. They specialise in anything from desalination and reverse-osmosis, to municipal and industrial water treatment.