Panel of Industry Experts to Convene to Discuss Singapore's Environment and Water Technology Roadmap

PANEL OF INDUSTRY EXPERTS TO CONVENE TO DISCUSS SINGAPORE’S ENVIRONMENT AND WATER TECHNOLOGY ROADMAP

The Environmental and Water Technologies (EWT) Executive Committee (Exco) brings together a renowned international panel of water experts and industrialists as its International Advisory Panel 

The International Advisory Panel (IAP) to the EWT Exco, a high-level panel of leading water experts and industrialists, will be convening in Singapore to discuss the country’s environment and water technology plans as mapped out by the Environment and Water Industry Development Council (EWI).This sector has been identified as a future growth sector for Singapore.Its inaugural meeting will be held in Singapore on 9 and 10 November 2006.

2 The EWI, an inter-agency council that leverages and draws on the expertise of agencies such MEWR, PUB, EDB, IE Singapore, NUS and STB, was launched on 2 May 2006 to spearhead the growth of the environment and water industry in Singapore. NRF will provide $330 million over the next five years to boost the development of the local environment and water industry by providing additional funding for R&D.By 2015, EWI aims to triple the sector’s value-add to the economy and double the number of jobs within the sector.

3 The EWT Exco is co-chaired by Mr Tan Yong Soon, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources and Mr Peter Ong, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Trade and Industry. Mr Tan Yong Soon shared, “I am very heartened that EWI is making good progress on its strategy of using R&D, with funding from NRF, to grow the industry cluster and encourage export of Singapore-based companies in the water sector.We are well-positioned to ride the growth wave of the global water industry with our comprehensive strategies to cover the entire technology development value chain. The recently launched S$100 million Environment and Water Research Programme[1] had generated tremendous interest with more than 120 proposals received.We are very pleased with the positive response to this programme. The team of global water experts in the IAP will enhance and strengthen EWI’s plans to grow Singapore’s water industry.”

4 On the progress achieved by EWI thus far, Mr Peter Ong added, “EWI’s efforts in the past few months have also borne fruit in terms of generating more R&D efforts by the private sector in water technologies. GE Water’s recent announcement in September 2006 that it will spend $130 mil over the next 10 years to set up the GE Water & Process Technology Global R&D Centre in Singapore is one such example, and there are more to come. I am sure that this is due in no small part to the unique EWI set-up. By leveraging on the capabilities of existing agencies, the EWI synergises the strengths of the existing agencies and prevents the unnecessary duplication of efforts. The EWI has and will continue to enjoy a high level support for its policies through the EWT Exco and the EWT Steering Committee.”

5 "Singapore has always been investing in new and innovative technologies to solve our water needs. Through this, Singapore has developed and attracted a thriving cluster of both international and local companies which spans the entire water industry ecosystem. Our Singapore-based water companies have the capabilities and expertise to serve the needs of the global water market. Through EWI’s technology programmes, we aim to better connect technology providers/sellers to buyers/users and at the same time, shorten the life-cycle in bringing technologies to the market” said Mr Khoo Teng Chye, Executive Director, EWI and Chief Executive, PUB.

6 Mr Kenneth Tan, Deputy Executive Director of EWI and Director Services, EDB added, “EWI’s efforts in attracting large global MNCs and growing our local champions as well as SMEs are also progressing well. Furthermore, our companies are also making good headway in key markets like the Middle East. We are delighted to see the progress and EWI will work to roll out more schemes in the coming months.”

7 The IAP comprises eight leading local and international academics and industrialists who are renowned in their respective fields of environment and water technology.The IAP is co-chaired by Lord Ronald Oxburgh, former Chairman of Shell UK and Mr Tan Gee Paw, Chairman, PUB.Members from the academic field include Professor Alexander J.B. Zehnder, President of the Board of the Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology and Professor Jorg Imberger, Chair of the Centre of Water Research in University of Western Australia and recent recipient of the Stockholm Water Prize.Other members from the commercial sector are Mr Joe Zuback, Chief Technology Officer of the I&S division of Siemens Water Technology; Dr Rengarajan Ramesh, head of the Technology Council for General Electric and Dr Andrew Benedek, former Chairman and CEO of Zenon Environmental Inc., also the founder of membrane technology for water and wastewater treatment. The members bring with them extensive and rich experience that Singapore can tap on to grow the environment and water industry.

Press Release by
Environment & Water Industry Development Council
7 November 2006

[1] The EWRP serves to accelerate research and development efforts in the Environment and Water industry in Singapore. The EWRP will ensure a coordinated national approach to such R&D through a project funding approach.Evaluation of proposals is expected to be completed by early 2007.

The annexes previously referenced in this press release have been removed due to broken links and unavailability.