Singapore Foreign Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam has ruled out the scope of Singapore Government assuming an active role in the construction of the new capital claiming “huge constructions are not our strength”.
He said there was possibility of formation of multiple joint ventures involving domestic and international players as well as some companies from Singapore which will help provide a mix of expertise in relevant areas. “We will focus on the areas where we are good at such as planning and managing projects. Huge constructions are not our strength,” he said in an interaction with a group of visiting journalists from Andhra Pradesh. Some companies from Singapore would ‘naturally’ be interested in taking up works and these could be through joint venture projects. “Certainly some of our companies are likely to be involved,” he said.Mr. Shanmugam underlined the need for clear and integrated planning upfront incorporating various aspects including population, roads and other infrastructure in taking up the construction of the capital. “The government should start with something good and build on it over a period of time,” he said.
Asserting that the Singaporean agencies that were entrusted with the task of preparing a detailed master plan for the new capital would submit their detailed plan by June, he, however, refused to put a timeline for the completion of the works. It was difficult to put a timeline because the activity would depend on the partners identified by the government.The government, he felt, should take a sensible approach and take few steps at a time to make the new capital a nodal centre for new technology that could attract brain power from across the globe including the vibrant Telugu Diaspora. To a query, he said the master plan would focus on an economically viable model and that it was for the State government to provide with inputs relating to various aspects including aspirations of the people and environment related issues that needed to be factored in. “A lot depends on the socio-economic and cultural aspects of the end users. The thinking has to be in phases and there should be a critical ecosystem,” he said.
We will focus on planning and managing projects. Huge constructions are not our strength, says Singapore Foreign Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam
