World Bank-Singapore Urban Hub launched

Business Times 24 Jun 09;

Its aim is to share ideas on making cities liveable

THE World Bank-Singapore Urban Hub was launched on the sidelines of Singapore International Water Week yesterday. Its aim is to use Singapore's expertise in urban development and the World Bank's knowledge and operational experience to benefit developing countries.

The launch of the hub comes after Singapore and the bank signed a memorandum of understanding last year to expand cooperation on urban development solutions.

Using Singapore as a test-bed, the hub will bring together Singapore's public agencies, research institutes as well as private sector players to look into solutions for developing cities.

The hub will work with bodies such as International Enterprise Singapore, the Urban Redevelopment Authority, Public Utilities Board and Centre for Liveable Cities.

Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam said: 'The Urban Hub is a major step forward in Singapore's strategic partnership with the World Bank. It allows Singapore to share its experience on a whole set of issues to do with making cities liveable - from water and waste management, to land use planning and urban conservation. Meanwhile, James Adams, the World Bank's vice-president for East Asia and the Pacific, said: 'We will now be able to develop a centre of excellence in Singapore to more effectively leverage our global knowledge and Singapore's recognised experience in urban management and finance to provide more timely advice and solutions to developing countries in Asia.'

Separately, Mr Adams also announced that the World Bank Office in Singapore will be led by Kamran M Khan from Aug 1.

Mr Khan, who is an American national, was most recently the bank's infrastructure finance adviser for East Asia and the Pacific.