Singapore water sector to get boost from partnership with Netherlands

Dylan Loh, Channel NewsAsia 22 Oct 09;

SINGAPORE: Singapore's growing water sector will get an additional boost from a partnership with the Netherlands, as both countries have agreed to enhance collaborations in the water industry.

The Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Jan Peter Balkenende, was given a tour of the Marina Barrage to gain a better understanding of Singapore's efforts in creating its first reservoir in the city. Also, the intention to set up the Netherlands Water House (NWH) in Singapore was announced here.

The NWH aims to strengthen ties between Singaporean and Dutch businesses and research institutes in the water sector. It will also organise conferences and workshops, as well as provide Dutch expertise in water management.

"I feel really proud, because this is a good example of cooperation between Singapore and the Netherlands. And we spoke about the expertise of Dutch companies, and you are realising it," said Dr Balkenende.

Earlier in the day, the Dutch Prime Minister was at the Istana, where he met President S R Nathan and attended a banquet hosted by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

In a speech, Mr Lee pointed out key areas of cooperation between the two countries amidst challenges.

"Both of us must prepare in earnest for a more competitive world after the crisis. We will need to focus on R&D, innovation and enterprise to maintain our competitive edge," said Mr Lee.

Water has been identified as a key engine of growth for Singapore's economy, and the country has committed an estimated S$330 million over five years to develop the local water industry.

- CNA/sc

PUB, Netherlands in water tie-up
Uma Shankari, Business Times 23 Oct 09;

SINGAPORE's national water agency PUB and the Netherlands Water Partnership signed a letter of intent yesterday to boost collaboration among businesses and research institutions.

The two countries have set up the Netherlands Water House (NWH) in Singapore to enhance cooperation and strengthen ties.

NWH representatives will organise and take part in meetings, conferences, workshops, courses and exhibitions. NWH will also promote Dutch knowledge and expertise in water technology and water management in Singapore and other regional countries.

PUB's and the Netherlands Water Partnership's tie-up acknowledges the opportunities that Singapore presents as a hub for the sizeable number of Dutch companies and businesses involved in the city state's water sector.Water has been identified as a key growth engine for the Singapore economy, with $330 million to be committed over five years to grow and develop the sector into a technological hotbed. Singapore is wooing R&D investments from leading international water players and encouraging local companies to make inroads overseas.

'Today there are more than 50 local and international companies in Singapore and we aim to grow this,' PUB chief executive Khoo Teng Chye said yesterday.

'The collaboration with Netherlands Water Partnership is an important step towards advancing Singapore's global hydro-hub aspirations. This alliance will lead to a more vibrant and active Dutch water business community here.'

Mr Khoo is also executive director of the Environment and Water Industry Development Council, which oversees the growth of the water industry in Singapore.

Former Shell CEO to be honorary citizen
He helped develop Singapore as an energy, petrochemicals hub
Joyce Hooi, Business Times 23 Oct 09;

DUTCH citizen Jeroen van der Veer, a former chief executive of Royal Dutch Shell, will be made an honorary Singapore citizen, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said yesterday.

Mr van der Veer is being honoured for helping develop Singapore as an energy and petrochemicals hub.

The Honorary Citizen Award is Singapore's highest recognition for non-Singaporeans. Last year, Ratan N Tata and Frank Tsao Wen-King were conferred the award.

PM Lee was speaking at an official lunch for Netherlands Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende.

At the lunch, Mr Lee stressed the need for the two countries to collaborate on water and environmental management.

'Our research institutes and corporations often have complementary knowledge, and we should encourage them to link up and share their expertise,' he said.

'I am therefore glad that Singapore's Public Utilities Board, the National University of Singapore and Dutch research institute Deltares have come together to establish the Aquatic Science Centre, a collaborative water research initiative.'

Mr Balkenende kicked off a three-day visit to Singapore yesterday, which includes a tour of the headquarters of the Singapore Armed Forces Medical Corps, the Marina Barrage and the site of the Aquatic Science Centre at Clementi.

The Aquatic Science Centre, launched in July last year, will research urban water management and showcase projects and technologies, as part of a network of centres in Singapore that monitor the island's water quality.

The Netherlands is Singapore's third-largest European trading partner. 'It is also our second-largest investor, with over $50 billion of assets in Singapore,' Mr Lee said. 'This is a remarkable figure, showing that size is no impediment to achieving a considerable economic impact.'

Singapore has $3.1 billion of investments in the Netherlands.

Road to be named after Winsemius
The late economist typified S'pore's many links with Netherlands
Nur Dianah Suhaimi, Straits Times 23 Oct 09;

FOR 25 years, Dr Albert Winsemius worked for the Singapore Government here without pay, helping to draw up 10-year development plans that transformed the island into today's high-technology, high-value-added industrial hub.

In honour of his contributions, especially between 1960 and 1985, Singapore will name a road after the late Dutch economist.

In announcing it yesterday, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said the relationship typified the strong and long-standing ties between Singapore and the Netherlands.

Mr Lee was speaking at an Istana lunch he hosted for visiting Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende, who is on a four-day official visit. Earlier in the day, Dr Balkenende had called on President SR Nathan and Mr Lee.

In his speech, PM Lee said Dr Winsemius 'provided invaluable and wise advice on economic development and investment policy'.

The road bearing his name, Albert Winsemius Lane, is in the western part of Singapore island. It leads to the Aquatic Science Centre near Sungei Ulu Pandan. The water research centre is a tie-up between the National University of Singapore, the Public Utilities Board (PUB) and Dutch company Delft Hydraulics.

Dr Balkenende, in his speech, said he was confident both countries would retain strong ties.

Their bilateral relations can be traced to the 16th century, when the first ships of the Dutch East India Company sailed through the Strait of Malacca, he noted.

The Dutch began many businesses here, he said. A Dutch bank was Singapore's first international bank, formed in 1830. Heineken was a co-founder of Malayan Breweries, now called Asia Pacific Breweries.

'Today, Dutch companies can be found everywhere in Singapore,' he added.

PM Lee earlier noted that the Netherlands, despite being one of Europe's smallest countries, is the second-largest investor in Singapore, with more than $50 billion in assets here. 'This is a remarkable figure, showing that size is no impediment to achieving a considerable economic impact,' he said.

He also noted that the armed forces of both countries also operate together in Oruzgan province, Afghanistan, where they support Nato's International Security Assistance Force.

People-to-people ties have also remained strong. Dr Balkenende developed a personal relationship with Singapore in the 1980s when he frequently visited his younger brother, Roland, who was then working here.

Many Dutch citizens have also contributed to Singapore's economy, said Mr Lee, citing Mr Jeroen van der Veer.

The former chief executive of Royal Dutch Shell will be conferred the Honorary Citizen Award for helping to develop Singapore into an energy and petrochemicals hub.

The award is the highest form of national recognition for non-citizens who have contributed to Singapore's development. As of last year, 10 foreigners from various fields had been honoured.

Both prime ministers also highlighted new areas of cooperation, especially on water research.

One area of collaboration that has been identified is in water and environment management.

Yesterday, the PUB and its Dutch counterpart, the Netherlands Water Partnership, signed a letter of intent to boost collaboration among businesses and research institutions in the water sector.

It will pave the way for the Dutch to share their expertise in water technology and management with Singapore.

The move is the latest in a series of research collaborations with Dutch water research centres.

Said PM Lee: 'Our cooperation in water and waste management is a good example of how two knowledge-based economies can add value to each other.

'There is much more that we can do.'

At a separate event, the Dutch Embassy said five Singaporeans had been given the Friend of the Netherlands Award, which is for people viewed as most-valued contacts for its ambassadors and consuls-general.

Among the five were Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports Vivian Balakrishnan and the chief executive officer of Hyflux water company, Ms Olivia Lum.