Latest developments are in line with the company's objective to position Singapore as a key node for its overall global water infrastructure business.

Latest developments are in line with the company's objective to position Singapore as a key node for its overall global water infrastructure business.

Singapore's environmental and engineering sector has enjoyed renewed commitment from one of its long-time investors, Black & Veatch. The company is a consulting, engineering and construction leader in numerous markets, namely water, energy and telecommunications.

Established in 1915 in Kansas City, Missouri, the company would build its operational presence in Singapore through the acquisition of Binnie & Partners, whose history dated back to the early 1900s in Singapore. Since then, Black & Veatch has risen to become one of the most prominent and significant players in the water industry. For example, the company was appointed to provide design and permitting services for the Singapore-Tuas Seawater Desalination project. The S$137.8 million (US$90 million) seawater reverse-osmosis plant, the biggest in Asia and one of the world's largest with a capacity of 36 million gallons per day, opened in September 2005.

Fast forward to 7 February 2007 and the company added two more feathers to its cap of achievements. First, it officially opened its Global Design Centre for water, and this was followed by the company being conferred Singapore Economic Development Board's (EDB) prestigious International Headquarters (IHQ) Award for its dedication to growing its Singapore-based business.

The ribbon-cutting and award presentation ceremony was officiated by S Iswaran, Minister for Trade and Industry.

The ribbon-cutting and award presentation ceremony was officiated by S Iswaran, Minister for Trade and Industry.


DRIVEN BY EXCELLENCE

Back in December 2006, Black & Veatch had already announced its intentions to establish its Singapore office as a key node for its global water infrastructure business. "We're pleased to receive this award in recognition of our development plans, which will see Black & Veatch's Singapore office expand significantly over the next five years," says Dan McCarthy, President and CEO, Black & Veatch's global water business. "These five-year plans include doubling the number of our professionals in Singapore, as well as investing in a Global Design Centre and establishing a Centre of Excellence for Desalination."

McCarthy also praised the Singapore office for its competency in "implementing world-class engineering projects", which has proved valuable to the company's global clients. "The Global Design Centre will help us to apply our broad project expertise to further ensure we can continue to provide our clients with global solutions to their local challenges," explains McCarthy. "The Centre of Excellence in desalination will focus on optimising the performance of plants and enhancing membrane life."

To meet the need for higher-skilled professionals during this crucial expansion phase, McCarthy also renewed the company’s commitment to continue bringing in world-class practice and technology leaders to impart advanced training in key water competencies to the local office. "There is excellent talent in Singapore," affirms Ralph Eberts, Managing Director, Black & Veatch's Asia-Pacific water business. "It is our plan that the Singapore office will play a larger role in our major projects. We will continue to strengthen our technical knowledge and management capacity. By opening a Global Design Centre here, we will be able to attract more Singapore-based professionals who want to work on exciting global and leading-edge projects."

Jonathan Clement and Dr Terry Johnson, Black & Veatch, together with Khoo Teng Chye, Chief Executive, PUB, listening to S Iswaran. Flanking him, on his right, is Ralph Eberts and Amy Shanker is on his left.

Jonathan Clement and Dr Terry Johnson, Black & Veatch, together with Khoo Teng Chye, Chief Executive, PUB, listening to S Iswaran. Flanking him, on his right, is Ralph Eberts and Amy Shanker is on his left.


TURNING TIDES WITH TALENT

Singapore is on track to attain its vision of becoming a Global Hydrohub by 2015. Already, the Republic has a dedicated Environment & Water Industry Development Council (EWI), and it comprises key government agencies such as EDB and PUB. EWI has been given a budget of S$330 million (US$ 215.6 million) over the next five years as part of the government's plans to further develop the sector. In January 2007, a Technology Pioneer scheme was announced to encourage the early adoption of new locally-produced environment and water technologies. EWI also declared that more programmes and initiatives would be rolled out in the first quarter of the year to "encourage R&D in water technologies, the seeding and realisation of newly-developed technologies and expedite the movement of new and innovative technologies from laboratories into the commercial world".

Not surprisingly, Black & Veatch's IHQ Award and Global Design Centre opening ceremony was an opportune time for yet another pertinent industry announcement - S Iswaran, Minister of State for Trade & Industry, announced that S$60 million (US$39.2 million) from the existing S$330 million (US$215.6 million) reserves will be allocated to fund world-class water research centres. "Anchored by leading institutions in the field of water technology, these centres will undertake cutting edge research and, in turn, train critical postgraduate manpower for our water industry," elaborates Iswaran.

No doubt, training of talent is the way to go to bring Singapore's water sector to greater heights. With the dedicated support of organisations such as Black & Veatch, Singapore's plans to establish itself as a Global Hydrohub looks more than likely to succeed in the near future.