AP, Singapore sign pact to share knowledge in construction field

Amaravati: AP Real Estate Regulatory Authority (APREA) and Building and Construction Authority of Singapore signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which ensures a commitment of knowledge sharing in the field of construction. 

The MoU will empower APRERA to promote and create a safe, high quality, environment-friendly and productive built environment in Andhra Pradesh with the help of expertise relating to the set-up, operation, experience and best practices in construction. 

Singapore minister for social and family development Desmond Lee, who was accompanied by a delegation of 50 members met Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu at the Secretariat on Tuesday. The Singapore minister said that the delegates represent companies from Singapore and international companies based in Singapore. 

Chief executive officer of Building and Construction Authority of Singapore Hugh Lim said that their initiatives to create a safe built environment in Singapore through the Construction and Real Estate Network (CORENET) e-Submission system for project approvals can help bring high level technology to Amaravati. 

“We also focus on green building roadmaps and green mark certification to promote environmental sustainability, which is in line with the state’s vision of building the green eco-friendly city of Amaravati,” said Lim. 

Responding to this, the Chief Minister suggested that an entire city (construction city in Amaravati) must be created as a one-stop centre for the manufacturing of construction materials, designing, construction academies and trade. 

“There is a huge market in India for this, as we bring our construction materials from different parts of the world,” the Chief Minister said requesting the cooperation of the delegates to help build on this idea. “During my visit on July 7,8 and 9 in Singapore, I want to discuss the developments in this idea with all of you. I also want to explore how to improve our system and create a one-stop centre for foreign investors,” Naidu said.

“Our goal is to create nine cities and 27 townships, all of which will be self-sustainable. I want the state to be tourist-friendly, promoting our native cultural strengths through religious tourism, agricultural tourism and village tourism”, Naidu explained.

He also spoke about the longstanding and fruitful relationship between Singapore and Andhra Pradesh, and admired the way they recently hosted the 2018 North Korea-United States Summit. “An event which was controversial on an international scale, was hosted with such grace and responsibility without anything untoward incident taking place,” he remarked. 

Naidu also recalled how Singapore has always actively participated in the development of Amaravati and requested their continued support in bringing innovation and infrastructure to the state. “Amaravati is a land of many opportunities as it is surrounded by rivers with a 60 km waterfront, green forest areas and dynamic people. Sky is the limit for development,” he said. 

Lee said that from the time the Singapore decided to participate in the development of Amaravati, the relationship (between AP and Singapore) has manifested itself into innumerable things like exchange programs, master-plans, MoUs and infrastructure being created. “Amaravati is very carefully and intricately master-planned, without the bombardment haphazard progress. I am sure that will be translated into reality in a way that it maintains adherence to the idea of a beautiful smart people-friendly city,” he said.