Singapore and Cambodia unveil urban planning and development training programme

The programme is supported by the Temasek Foundation financially at S$265,000, initiated by IE Singapore and led by Singapore’s BCA.

Temasek Foundation and Singapore’s Building and Construction Authority (BCA) launched a programme to train 1,140 Cambodian government officials in land management, urban planning and building control. Initiated by International Enterprise (IE) Singapore, this training programme is being conducted in Phnom Penh by a team of senior officials and experts from the BCA, Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) and Singapore Land Authority (SLA).

The first batch of 140 officials from the Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction of Cambodia (MLMUPC) participated in this customised programme which started on 1 August 2011. It will conclude officially on 9 September 2011.

Temasek Foundation committed a grant of S$265,000 to this programme. It supports the Cambodian government’s strategies in urban development for the country’s economic growth, according to an IE Singapore report.

Through the programme, the Cambodian officials learned about:

• Singapore’s strategies in national development in land management, urban planning and building control;
• the policies and regulations that were developed for these strategies;
• the resources and expertise needed to administer these policies and regulations; and
• Singapore’s building codes and regulations, including the issuance of construction permits.

Commenting on the programme, the Senior Minister of Cambodia’s Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction, Mr Im Chhun Lim said: “Cambodia’s population growth has continued to increase steadily which can be a source of pressure on the demand of land use, both for housing and economic development as well as for urban development. With proper land management or land use planning, we can better manage the country’s resources in a proper, highly effective and sustainable manner.”

“We consider this training programme co-operation as another new starting point for our bilateral cooperation which has a new form and approach by sending Singapore experts to offer training in the Ministry,” he added.
Temasek Foundation Chief Executive Officer Mr Benedict Cheong said: “Temasek Foundation is pleased to support this programme to help the participants enhance their capabilities in developing long-term strategies for Cambodia’s land management and urban planning. The programme is very much in line with efforts to strengthen institutional capabilities that lend to development and growth. Singapore had in its early days benefited from training programmes and scholarships offered by other countries across a whole range of areas such as education, healthcare, public administration and others. It is therefore fitting for Singapore agencies to play their part to support on-going efforts of Asian communities to build people, build communities, build institutions and rebuild lives.”

BCA Chief Executive Officer Dr John Keung added: “The programme is unique and significant as it provides insights into Singapore’s urban development journey underpinned by our key principles in urban governance. Through the joint efforts of several Singapore agencies, including BCA, URA and SLA, this programme will share how Singapore has evolved to her current state of infrastructure development through careful and systematic planning, as well as a robust regulatory framework.”

Following the programme, the participants will share what they have learnt with about 1,000 officials across the 24 provinces and municipalities in Cambodia. In addition, the participants will use what they have learnt to identify new initiatives, policies, reforms and processes that will contribute to Cambodia’s ‘National Urban Development Strategy’ and ‘Construction Policy and Law Formulation Initiative’.

Said Deputy Chief Executive Officer of IE Singapore, Mr Chua Taik Him: “The training programme will help Cambodia to build critical capabilities in its effort to urbanise. We are happy that Singapore agencies are coming together to share their expertise and best practices. This multiple-agency training programme will pave the way for more investments by the private sector and contribute to the sustainable growth of Cambodia.”