NEW DELHI: With an eye on improving urbanisation process in the country with assistance from Singapore an urban management program organised by Temasek Foundation (TF) and Singapore Cooperation Enterprise (SCE) and NITI Aayog got underway here on Wednesday for over 50 participants from seven Indian states. This is in accordance with an MoU which was signed during PM Narendra Modis visit to Singapore last year.
Officials from 7 States (Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh & Assam) are participating in this Programme that would cover areas of Urban Planning & Governance, Water, Waste Water & Solid Waste Management and Public Financing (PPP) of Urban Infrastructure. The best practices of Singapore in these areas are being shared by TF and SCE.
Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog, Dr Arvind Panagariya chaired the Launch Programme which was attended by the Member NITI Aayog, Dr Bibek Debroy, High Commissioner of Singapore to India, the CEO of SCE and the CEO of Temasek Foundation.
The state participation is at the level of Secretaries of Urban Development, Municipal Commissioners and other senior officials of State Government.
The Programme has been designed by NITI Aayog, Temasek Foundation and SCE under the platform of the Memorandum of Understanding signed between NITI Aayog and the SCE to tap the expertise of Singapore in urban sector to build capacities in State Governments and ULBs.
During the program, experts from Singapore would impart training in highly interactive workshops and share Singapore’s and international experiences with the participants. The workshops and advisory sessions would focus on Urban Planning & Governance, Water and Wastewater Management, Solid Waste Management and bringing in private sector efficiencies in urban infrastructure.
Urbanisation level in India, which was around 31 per cent in census 2011 is estimated to increase and reach 40 per cent by 2030 in percentage terms, the urbanisation level may appear to be modest, however in absolute numbers it is very large.
Urban population of India is more than the entire population of United States of America or Brazil. The urban economy has also witnessed significant growth and is contributing to around 60 per cent of GDP. However, to reap the full benefits of urbanisation, it is important that it is efficient and sustainable.
Set up by Temasek, an investment company based in Singapore, Temasek Foundation is a Singapore philanthropic organisation that seeks to build a more prosperous, stable and connected Asia through building human and social capital.
SCE was set up by the Ministry of Trade and Industry and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Singapore in 2006 to respond effectively to the multitude of foreign requests interested in Singapore’s development experience.
SCE works closely with Singapore’s 15 ministries and over 60 statutory boards to scope out and tailor possible solutions to match the needs of foreign governments, and help meet their development objectives. SCE also serves as the focal point of access to expertise from Singapore across its public agencies.
SCE is now an integrated arm of International Enterprise Singapore, the government agency driving Singapore’s external economy.