Jakarta asks Singapore to help develop infrastructure

The Jakarta Post/Asia News Network AsiaOne 13 Nov 14;

The Jakarta administration has asked Singapore to help provide technical assistance for big infrastructure projects like low-cost apartments and liquid-waste management.

Acting governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama said after receiving a Singaporean business delegation accompanied by Singapore's Ambassador to Indonesia, Anil Kumar Nayar, at City Hall on Wednesday that the city needed technical assistance from countries like Singapore, a city-state that is a development success story.

"Singapore has advanced in many fields, including land reclamation. We can get much knowledge from them," he said.

The city is to carry out a giant waterfront city project dubbed the National Capital Integrated Coastal Development (NCICD) that includes land reclamation and construction of 17 artificial islets.

Ahok said after the meeting that the Singaporean business delegation would come again in the near future with more detailed proposals. "They will examine what kind of technical assistance they can provide," he said.

"We have also sent our officials to Singapore several times to learn how to manage big infrastructure projects," he said.

On Tuesday, Ahok also received a US delegation at his office and asked that country for help to develop LNG-fueled power stations and electric vehicles in the capital.