Taking the p***: Singapore's water recycling industry adds $590 million to GDP

And a walloping $8.4 billion worth of overseas projects is behind this significant success in the industry, says the government.

The Singapore water industry has shown significant progress since it was identified as a strategic growth area in 2006. To date, Singapore is home to a thriving water industry of more than 70 local and international companies. Investments by water companies in the period of 2006 to 2010, when fully realised, will add S$590 million of annual value-added to our economy and generate 2,300 professional and skilled jobs. Singapore-based water companies have also done well in serving the international market, with cumulative project value reaching S$8.4 billion1 over the same period.

The Environment and Water Industry Programme Office (EWI), an inter-agency effort led by PUB, the national water agency, the Economic Development Board (EDB) and International Enterprise (IE) Singapore, will continue to build on the strengths of Singapore’s water industry to achieve its target contribution of S$1.7 billion to Singapore’s GDP and 11,000 jobs by 2015.

Singapore’s status as a global hydrohub is cemented in the development of a strong ecosystem of local and international companies, conducting a range of activities including research and development (R&D), testbedding, engineering, manufacturing and headquarters operations. (See Annex B for list of key private sector investments in the water industry from 2006 to 2010).

Said Mr Yeoh Keat Chuan, Assistant Managing Director, Singapore Economic Development Board, “Since the identification of water as a key growth sector in 2006, the industry in Singapore has been transformed to one that is highly vibrant, innovation-driven and global in its reach. We will continue to sharpen Singapore’s competitive advantages by providing opportunities across the entire innovation value chain. Singapore aims to be a conducive marketplace where companies can easily establish partnerships in R&D, development and test-bedding of integrated solutions and collective bidding for global projects.”

Besides attracting investments into Singapore, the industry has also seen the export of water expertise to key overseas markets such as China and the Middle East by Singapore-based water companies. Today, water treatment technologies developed in Singapore are increasingly being applied in markets overseas. For example, leading global players such as Black & Veatch and CDM from the US are employing expertise gained in Singapore to their other projects around the world.