Asian Development Bank (ADB) has opened its Singapore Office which marks a new stage in the expansion of ADB’s private sector operations. It will be a lean and focused office comprising 12 specialists from ADB’s Private Sector Operations Department (PSOD) and Office of Public–Private Partnership, working in a range of sectors including infrastructure, financial institutions, agribusiness, health and education, trade finance, private equity, and cofinancing. The office is led by Sonali Tang, who has worked at ADB for 5 years in various senior roles.
ADB’s private sector operations promote the investment of private capital for development purposes. Last year, PSOD completed 38 transactions, around one-fifth of ADB’s total operations by number. ADB aims to increase this to one-third of total operations by 2024. The office will make it easier for ADB to efficiently engage with clients, project sponsors, contractors, advisors, financiers, other international finance institutions, and professional service providers.
Singapore was a founding member of ADB in 1966. It borrowed from ADB until 1980 and graduated formally from borrowing in 1998. Since 2001, Singapore has contributed to ADB’s concessional fund, the Asian Development Fund, as well as the Technical Assistance Special Fund. In 2012, ADB and Singapore signed a memorandum of understanding to enhance knowledge sharing and cooperation in governance and public policy, private sector development, climate change, and infrastructure and urban development. Singapore is an active participant in the ASEAN Infrastructure Fund that is supported by ADB.
ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty. Established in 1966, it is owned by 68 members—49 from the region.
Changi Airport Group (CAG) has made official announcement that expansion and renovation works at Terminal 2 (T2) will commence after the Chinese New Year holidays, beginning with check-in rows 9 to 12 in the Departure Hall. This marks the beginning of a multi-year expansion project which will increase T2’s handling capacity, as well as to replace facilities and amenities which are nearing the end of their shelf lives.
The expansion project will add 15,500 square metres to the terminal building and increase Changi Airport’s capacity by five million passengers per annum (mppa). This brings Changi’s total capacity to 90 mppa when the works are completed around 2024.
Last refurbished in 2006, the refreshed T2 will sport even more greenery and natural elements at every turn, in keeping with Changi’s signature garden theme in its terminals. There will also be space added in the Departure and Arrival Halls, giving more room to airport operations such as check-in and immigration clearance. Additional retail and F&B outlets will be introduced in both the public and transit areas, providing passengers and visitors with wider and refreshed options. At the same time, passenger touchpoints will be enhanced for a smoother and more seamless experience.
The refurbished T2 Departure Hall will feature a spacious common-use central Fast And Seamless Travel (FAST) zone, with more automated check-in kiosks and bag drop machines. With this, more passengers will be able to use these self-service options to check-in early. Concurrently, the existing rows of check-in counters in the Departure Hall will be transformed to better serve passengers. All in all, the passenger handling capacity in the hall will be increased by as much as 20%.
To facilitate the expansion works, some airlines operating in T2 will be shifted to alternative check-in rows within the terminal during the course of works. The two flight information display flip boards will be retired, with the one between Check-in Rows 9 and 10 to be decommissioned next month.
A duplex F&B concept will be introduced at the north end of T2’s landside leading to Jewel Changi Airport, to provide visitors with a fresh dining experience, while transforming this gateway to Jewel.
In the Departure Transit Hall, the Orchid Garden, which has provided calm reprieve to many passengers with its elegant orchids since 1997, will be closed to make way for a new garden. This new garden will showcase a revolutionary landscape design, incorporating a plethora of new plant species for the enjoyment of passengers when it re-opens.
To cater for more retail and F&B offerings for passengers, the commercial spaces within the Departure Transit Hall will be increased. In particular, the food street areas along the length of the Departure Transit Hall and overlooking the tarmac will undergo refurbishment. Designed to provide passengers with a garden dining experience, this area will incorporate dramatic green walls, hanging plants and soft lighting. More F&B kiosks options will be brought in, along with additional seating and a newly curated tenant mix for an enhanced dining experience.
In addition, all passengers, whether transferring, transiting or departing, can also look forward to refreshed waiting areas with more comfortable seating, relaxation zones and a new play area for children. New experiential zones will be introduced at various locations within the Departure Transit Hall to keep passengers entertained during their time at Changi.
To cater to higher passenger traffic passing through T2, the Departure and Arrival Immigration Halls will be expanded. Specifically, the Immigration Halls will be reconfigured to support additional automated immigration lanes. The Immigration Halls will similarly incorporate lush greenery, extending a warm welcome to our passengers.
To handle a higher volume of bags at T2, two existing baggage belts will be lengthened and another two new belts will be added, bringing the total number of baggage belts to 10. The Early Baggage Storage system will also be upgraded from semi-automated to fully-automated, allowing some 2,300 bags to be stored at any time.
In the Arrival Hall, a garden-like lounge will be created, where meeters and greeters can wait comfortably for their friends and families to arrive.
For the dining outlets in the public area of the airport, McDonald’s in the Arrival Hall will close on 31 January 2020, while Starbucks in the Departure Hall will cease operations in April 2020. The remaining F&B outlets in T2’s public areas will remain open for passengers and visitors until the later phases of the expansion works. With the refurbishment, a new cluster of F&B kiosks will offer additional quick bites options at the south end of the Arrival Hall.
Started in 1998 selling only the original All Chocolate cake, Awfully Chocolate has grown from one indie store into a group of shops, cafes and restaurants bearing love for dark chocolate.
Opening just in time for Christmas, the newly renovated store at Raffles City is now twice the size, and has expanded to carry their exclusive Premium Gifting Collection! In addition to their fresh cakes, truffles and ice cream, customers can now walk in to sample and purchase their artisanal chocolate bars, gourmet cookies and beautifully packaged gift sets all year round! Get your favourite chocolate cakes and gifts at Singapore's Favourite Chocolate gift store today!
Plus Fitness has over 250 gyms across Australia, New Zealand and India. Their first Singapore club is now open at Toa Payoh Central and they have plans to set up a total of 25 gyms in Singapore in the next 3 years.
Friendly, convenient and affordable, you can use Plus Fitness gyms 24/7, 365 days a year! As well as full access to their world-class facilities and equipment, by joining Plus Fitness in Singapore members can also use all Plus Fitness gyms across Australia, New Zealand, India and upcoming ones in Singapore too.
Plus Fitness at Toa Payoh will provide you with the following great benefits;
- Low membership prices
- A free tailored fitness program
- Great range of group exercise classes
- 24/7 access all year round
- Free Membership Timehold for those busy times when you can't get to the gym
- Access to all Plus Fitness 24/7 gyms around the world!
What’s the best way to stay on track with your fitness goals? Training together with like-minded people in a fun, energetic and supportive environment in one of their leading-edge X-CELL Classes! From high-intensity training sessions, to classes that focus on just letting you move and feel better, their X-CELL Classes are a great way to stay inspired, train effectively and have fun with your fitness all in the space of 30 minutes.
Las Vegas Sands has released an official announcement on a bold expansion plan for Marina Bay Sands in Singapore which will see the world’s most successful and recognizable integrated resort add significant new tourism offerings to the property. The company has entered into a development agreement with the Singapore government and said it will quickly begin work on the new project.
Located immediately adjacent to the existing Marina Bay Sands Integrated Resort (IR), the key elements of the development will be a state-of-the-art 15,000-seat arena, a luxury hotel tower and additional MICE (Meeting, Incentive, Convention, and Exhibition) space.
“Marina Bay Sands is an iconic tourism destination that has exceeded all of our hopes in growing leisure and business tourism in Singapore and it is a privilege to receive the Singapore government’s continued support of its development. The property has achieved amazing success for both Singapore and our company and we plan to create even more with this expansion,” said Las Vegas Sands Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Sheldon G. Adelson.
The new extension to Barramundi Asia's barramundi nursery was officially unveiled by the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources, Masagos Zulkifli, on 27 February.
The nursery is located in the south of Singapore on Pulau Semakau, now has 1,200 sq m more space and the addition of eight giant 50 cubic m tanks.
Barramundi Asia is ramping up production to 6,000 tonnes of fish yearly, which is more than what Singapore's 120 fish farms produced in 2018. This means a more consistent local fish supply and less fluctuations in fish prices throughout the year.
Founded in 2008, Barramundi Asia Pte Ltd (BAPL) is one of the largest companies in the world farming Barramundi in the ocean and draws on world-class sustainable fish farming practices and aquaculture technology. Granted the only two fish farming licenses in the Southern waters of Singapore, BAPL is the largest fish farm in Singapore by biomass. The Company focuses on the full value chain (“Farm-to-Fork”) from the hatchery, nursery, sea cage farm, processing to marketing with its own registered brand Kühlbarra (B2C and B2B) which allows it to capture the full premium value. BAPL’s vision is to become the world’s largest supplier of fresh sustainable Barramundi. BAPL has also developed and wholly owns a vaccines business and production lab, Uvaxx Pte Ltd, which develops and supplies proprietary autogenous vaccines for its own and third-party farm operations.
At a recent launch event for the 160th Anniversary celebrations of the Singapore Botanic Gardens, the National Parks Board (NParks) unveiled their plans for the 8 ha extension to the Gardens along Gallop Road. Comprising an arboretum which will hold 200 to 300 species of dipterocarp forest species, Singapore’s first permanent collection of botanical art on display, a restored ridge-top habitat and a biophilic play area, the Gallop extension brings the total area of the Gardens to 82 hectares – the largest in its 160-year history. For the first time in Singapore, visitors of all ages and abilities will be able to explore and appreciate native forest ecology in one location, furthering the Gardens’ mission of connecting people with plants.
As Singapore’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Singapore Botanic Gardens has a rich history of research, conservation, education and recreation.
With its rolling terrain of open lawns framed by landscapes of native plants and forests, and featuring two conservation buildings, the Gallop extension will continue the Singapore Botanic Gardens’ heritage roles in research, conservation, education and recreation. As a natural extension of the Gardens’ Nature Area which covers 6 ha of primary rainforest and the Learning Forest, the Gallop extension will enable visitors to learn about forest ecology and the importance of conservation in a single location when it opens in late 2019. The extension will also buffer against urban development surrounding the native flora and fauna within the Gardens’ UNESCO World Heritage Site. Read more about the various new features of this green project here.
Facebook announces on their official page that Facebook's first custom-built data center in Asia will be located in Singapore. The 170,000 sqm data center represents an investment of more than $1.4 billion Singapore Dollars and will support hundreds of jobs and form parts of their growing presence in Singapore and across Asia.
They've selected Singapore for a number of reasons, including robust infrastructure and access to fiber, a talented local workforce and a great set of community partners, including the Singapore Economic Development Board and the Jurong Town Corporation, both of which have helped them move this project forward.
Their data centers are highly advanced facilities that help bring Facebook apps and services to people around the world every day. The Singapore Data Center will join their portfolio of hyper-efficient facilities; it has been designed from the ground up with new features to minimize the use of water, energy and land.
Commanding a prominent waterfront location with the Singapore skyline as its backdrop, the Marina Bay Cruise Centre Singapore (MBCCS) serves as a marine gateway to the heart of the city.
Occupying 28,000 sqm, equivalent to three football fields, the MBCCS is designed as an architectural icon with the capability to accommodate some of the world's largest ships. The terminal features a spacious arrival and departure hall as well as a large ground transportation area to ensure a smooth and seamless experience for passengers.
MBCCS is set to expand as regional traffic grows. MBCCS, which has two berths now, has enough capacity to survive the next 3-5 years. More berths needed as Marina Bay terminal is set to receive over one million passengers a year
With passenger numbers at MBCCS likely to cross the 1-million-passenger mark this financial year, the terminal is taking steps to avoid possible congestion by tapping smart technology.
By September 2019, a total of 460 cameras, each capable of clicking 750 images a second, will be installed at MBCC with sensors fixed at key locations such as the check-in and baggage handling areas.
A new and bigger Arrival Hall has opened at Changi Airport Terminal 1, increasing the terminal’s floor area by 35% to 8,500m2.
The new hall is part of a larger expansion plan for T1, estimated to boost the terminal’s handling capacity to 24 million passenger movements per annum. The terminal served about 3.2 million passengers in the first quarter of 2018.
With the recent opening of the new arrival zone; travellers will collect their bags and walk down a passageway before entering the public area which used to be the road outside the terminal.
Within the arrival hall is a new garden featuring palm trees of up to 15m in height, a feature pool and a diversity of flora incorporated with dragonfly topiaries and sculptures. This is the airport’s first garden situated in the public area.
Changi Airport Terminal 1's new arrival pick-up zone is now open and is the first of several changes under a $323 million expansion project to boost the terminal's capacity.
The changes include a new "meeters and greeters hall", a five-storey underground carpark, an expanded baggage claim area plus more baggage belts.
The new "meeters and greeters" hall which will be opened progressively from April, will lead to a 35 per cent expansion in the floor area of T1's arrival hall.
It will be integrated fully with level 1 of Jewel, allowing arriving passengers to walk directly into the new development.
And next year, the baggage claim hall floor area will be expanded by 90 per cent, providing more space for arriving passengers.
The new carpark will be ready by the end of this year. It will also serve Jewel after it opens next year.
Firmenich, the world’s largest privately-owned fragrance and flavor company has open a new cutting-edge $13 million Global Perfumery Creative Centre at Singapore’s Science Park.
Expanding the Group’s footprint in Asia, the 3,500 sq m state-of-the-art facility will offer world-class capabilities from perfume creation and technology innovation, to cutting-edge application labs and consumer insights. This Global Centre of Excellence houses the Group’s leadership teams for Hair Care, Soap Bars and Detergent Powders, uniting Firmenich’ s expertise in Fine Fragrance, Body Care and Home Care.
Founded in Geneva, Switzerland, in 1895, Firmenich has created many of the world’s best-known perfumes and flavours that billions of consumers enjoy each day. Its passion for smell and taste is at the heart of its success. It is renowned for its world-class research and creativity, as well as its thought leadership in sustainability and exceptional understanding of consumer trends.
Each year, it invests 10% of its turnover in R&D, reflecting its continuous desire to understand, share and sublimate the best that nature has to offer. Firmenich had an annual turnover of 3.2 billion Swiss Francs at end June 2016.
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