Singapore (VNA) – Singapore needs tocontinue finding “innovative and sustainable ways” to improve its urban design,given its space constraints and competing needs for residences, industries,leisure, and amenities, Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat said on October 2.

The official made the statement whileaddressing the opening ceremony of the country’s large-scale event onarchitecture and building services.

ASEAN is projected to become the fourth-largestsingle market by 2030, while Asia is expected to continue being the world’sfastest-growing region. The speed of growth in Asia will result in rapidurbanisation and greater demand for infrastructure and building, he noted. 

Singapore should thus be accelerating itsinfrastructure sector, including reliable urban design, as it can boost a city’scharacter and identity as such spaces can often become homogenised in anincreasingly globalised world. 

Furthermore, advancements in urban design willrequire more productive methods, so Singapore needs to keep up with theaccelerating pace of technological advancement, to continue building thecountry into a green, highly liveable, and smart city.

The nation has launched various solutions toimprove construction quality, particularly a new energy law for buildings,contributing to climate change adaptation.

In addition, the Singaporean Government hasimplemented an initiative worth 3 million SGD (over 2 million USD) to procuresecurity cameras and smart sensors, amongst others, to ensure safety andsecurity for its citizens and tourists.

At the event this year, 13 conferences and sixexhibitions will be organised to introduce the latest technologies and trends thatmeet the demand of Singapore’s construction sector, especially on buildingsmart nation and security measures.

About 10,000 delegates, architects,contractors, builders, and interior designers are expected to attend thethree-day event, along with representatives from the government andinternational housing development agencies. –VNA