Singapore Government Press Release

Media Division, Ministry of Information and The Arts,

36th Storey, PSA Building, 460 Alexandra Road, Singapore 119963.

Tel: 3757794/5

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ADDRESS BY PRIME MINISTER GOH CHOK TONG AT THE DINNER OF THE WORLD CONFERENCE ON MODEL CITIES ON MONDAY, 19  APRIL 1999, AT THE COLLYER ROOM, WESTIN STAMFORD, AT 7.30 PM

A very warm welcome to all of you.

Singaporeans are proud of their city-state. But we do not have any pretension that Singapore is a model city for the world. Indeed, many Singaporeans will tell you that we can claim such an honour only when the entire island is air-conditioned to keep out the heat and humidity!

This World Conference on Model Cities actually originated from an initiative undertaken by Brazil, Germany, Brazil, South Africa and Singapore. That was the Global Initiative on Sustainable Development, jointly launched by then Chancellor Helmut Kohl, President Fernando Cardoso, Deputy President Thabo Mbeki and myself in New York in June 1997. Our aim was to look at the progress since the 1992 Earth Summit held in Rio de Janeiro and see how the developed and developing countries could work together to improve the protection of the environment and to strengthen development cooperation among nations.

Under the Global Initiative, a major area of study and review is urbanisation and its impact on the environment. This Conference in Singapore will showcase and benchmark the best practices in the planning and management of cities around the world. The Conference will highlight the factors which foster developments and growth in successful cities where the residents enjoy a high quality of life. It is intended to be a preparatory conference to the Urban 21 World Congress, to be held in Berlin next year.

The Changing Role of Cities

Cities are living entities. They embody cultural, historical, economic, political and social progress. As civilisations evolved over the centuries from an agrarian society to an industrial society and to the present knowledge-based society, the roles of cities have similarly changed with the times. In today’s information age, electronic transactions and interactions are made in real-time in cyberspace, thus transcending the physical boundaries and limits of cities. Cities which recognise this development will use information technology to expand their outreach, connect with people in the non-urban areas and tap into the global market for new opportunities. Cities which move faster on this will prosper and generate wealth for themselves and their respective nations.

A city in the new millennium must have the hardware and technological infrastructure to support an information economy. Also important is the software - the ideas and knowledge of its people. A city that is able to process information efficiently and generate new knowledge for the production and distribution of goods and services will be a successful global city.

Therefore, it is essential for cities to possess quality human capital. It is people and their brain power that drive a city’s economic, cultural and social development. It is people who plan, build and determine the character of a city. But people are highly mobile. They can move across national borders, and many do in search of better opportunities. Hence, more than ever, a city must be able to attract and retain highly-valued people. In order to do this, a city has to create a conducive living environment that not only satisfies its residents’ economic and security needs, but also their intellectual, aesthetic, recreational and social needs.

One way to do this is to encourage civic participation in a city's life. People as stakeholders of a city should have a greater say over the development of the city they live in. City planners have to involve city dwellers in the process of creating their dream homes within a safe, secure and pleasant living environment. Then, the city will not only be a place for work and business but buzz with residential life as well.

Singapore - A Cosmopolis

Last month, I had the opportunity to visit the great cities of Paris and Rome. I was impressed by the rich heritage in their architecture, beautiful works of art, monuments from the past and their sense of grandeur. They have integrated traditional buildings and relics from the past into the contemporary city-scape. They have preserved the character and history of their respective societies. And yet both cities are modern and efficient, but congested with traffic. I would like to capture the magic of Paris and the majesty of Rome for Singapore, but not their traffic conditions. Because I was their guest, police outriders with sirens screaming whizzed my convoy of cars dangerously through heavy traffic. I was reminded of ancient Rome. Then, soldiers in chariots flailed whips to clear crowds for emperors and nobles to pass through. In urban planning, managing vehicular growth and congestion must be one of the more difficult perpetual challenges.

Singapore too has its traffic problems. It has grown from a sleepy fishing village in the 19^th century to a busy trading port and now, a bustling business, financial and communications hub. As a small city-state, we are extremely susceptible to external forces, and developments. In order to survive and grow in this dynamic milieu, we have to constantly redefine our role. We have to adapt and change as the world and the region around us change. We embrace change and recognize the need to continually learn from others. This Conference is one way in which we hope to learn from other cities of the world. It is an example of how we tap the rich potential which lies in the exchange of knowledge and networking.

Our goal is to turn Singapore into a cosmopolis – an attractive, efficient and vibrant city exuding confidence and charm, and a magnetic hub of people, minds, talents, ideas and knowledge.

This cosmopolis or world city will be a clean and safe city set in a pleasant, tropical garden environment. It will be a cosmopolitan city with a Singapore flavour, a forward-looking modern city with a rich diversity of eastern and western cultures. Visitors will enjoy the Singaporeaness of our city as captured in the unique blend of new and old, east and west, and the harmony and diversity of its multiracial society. They will feel comfortably at home because of its cosmopolitan outlook and the welcome they will receive.

Conclusion

In conclusion, each country and society has its own complexities and traditions. In the development, planning and management of cities, the policy-makers need to be extremely sensitive to the customs of the peoples, the economics involved, the national concerns and the global trends. However we plan a city, in the end, there is one overriding guiding principle for everyone. This is to provide a good living environment where the residents can work and play happily and peacefully.

As we enter the new millennium, it is important that cities are equipped to handle the demands of the growing urban population and show the way for sustainable development. I am, therefore, pleased that more than 300 key decision-makers, professionals and academics from Singapore and the rest of the world are gathered here to share their respective experiences in developing attractive and efficient cities which are a joy to live in. It is my hope that the outcome of this World Conference on Model Cities will make a positive contribution to the success of the Urban 21 World Congress in Berlin.

Finally, I wish all our foreign participants a pleasant and enjoyable stay in Singapore. Come back and visit Singapore again.

Thank you.

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