Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, Singapore

Date Published: 26 Jul 2010

Mr Goh Ngan Hong SISV President,

Mr Teoh Wooi Sin PAQS Chairman,

Mr Peter Cox ICEC Chairman,

Distinguished Delegates,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am pleased to join you this morning for the 7^th International Cost Engineering Council and 14^th Pacific Association of Quantity Surveyors Congress. Let me extend a warm welcome to all our international delegates. This Congress is yet another milestone for the International Cost Engineering Council (ICEC), Pacific Association of Quantity Surveyors (PAQS) and Singapore Institute of Surveyors and Valuers (SISV).

Sustainable Cost Management: Borderless Innovation

2 The ICEC and PAQS are non-governmental and non-profit organizations that aim to promote cooperation between national and multinational cost engineering, quantity surveying and project management organisations worldwide for their mutual well-being and that of their individual members. Located in more than 40 countries and bringing together more than 120,000 cost engineers, quantity surveyors and project managers, ICEC and PAQS help to foster innovation with other relevant practices like project and facilities management, environmental sustainability, dispute resolution and more.

3 Against this backdrop, it is appropriate that the theme for this congress is “SUSTAINABLE COST MANAGEMENT: BORDERLESS INNOVATION”. In today’s society, globalisation and technology have resulted in an unprecedented flow of knowledge, goods, capital and people across borders in the real world. The internet has become the primary habitat of ideas, innovation and communication.

Financial markets are profoundly inter-connected and no business plan is complete without an international strategy. The global industries highlight the need for enterprises to have an outward orientation if they are to seize the opportunities and withstand the challenges that arise from globalisation.

4 Quantity surveyors and cost engineers are not insulated from these trends. Now, we have more opportunities for cross-border practice and interaction. It is for this reason that SISV and other professional institutions have come together under the umbrella of ICEC and PAQS to establish a mutually recognized road map for members. This will allow all your members to pursue opportunities in diverse overseas industries.

5 However, to take advantage of business opportunities abroad, mutual recognition of professional qualifications alone is not sufficient. It is equally important that the profession establishes strong international networks and contacts, and continue to pursue professional development.

6 To this end, the ICEC and PAQS Congress serve as a valuable platform to facilitate the understanding of such practices for cross-border transactions and global opportunities. It is also a useful forum for the discussion of best practices and benchmarking, necessary to meet the increasingly high demands of the business community.

Towards Sustainable Development

7 I am pleased to learn that sustainable development is a key issue that will be discussed at the Congress.

Last year, the Singapore Government launched the Sustainable Singapore Blueprint –an inter-agency effort that charts the strategies and initiatives necessary for Singapore to achieve economic growth and a good living environment over the next two decades. One of the key components in our sustainable development journey is sustainable construction, which refers to adopting a green mindset in our construction processes, methods and materials, in order to minimize pollution to our environment, meeting the overall objective of environmental sustainability.

8 In Singapore, the Government has been encouraging our construction industry to adopt sustainable practices by putting in place design standards and practice codes to allow and facilitate the recycling of demolition waste for concrete production and to make recycled materials more accessible for use in construction. Funding is also available to help players in the sustainable construction supply chain build capabilities in technology and enhance their processes.

In addition, sustainable construction components are incorporated into the Green Mark Scheme introduced by the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) –a certification scheme that rates the environmental sustainability of a building, in terms of its energy and resource usage.

9 To guide developers and industry professionals on how to integrate innovative waterscapes such as rain gardens and bio-retention swales into the built environment, PUB, the national water agency has also developed an Active-Beautiful-Clean Waters design guidebook. The design guidelines illustrate how easy it is to incorporate the green with the blue, and in turn, beautify the landscape, improve water quality and enhance our living environment. To take this a step further, PUB recently introduced the ABC Waters certification scheme to recognise the efforts made by the private and public sectors in creating a sustainable and more liveable city through the integration of ABC Waters concept in their developments.

10 Through these initiatives, we are now seeing the emergence of a diverse range of new eco-product offerings, from the use of solar energy to promoting recycling; in various vertical and horizontal segments. An example of a commercial development with green features is the City Square Mall, a Green Mark Platinum building. Amongst its resource-efficient features include the use of photovoltaics to harness solar energy and a pneumatic waste disposal system to improve indoor air quality. On the government front, the Zero Energy Building at BCA Academy is also an excellent showcase of advanced green building technologies like personalized cooling for occupants and vertical greenery to reduce solar gains and glare. Quantity surveyors and cost engineers naturally play an important role in this market, by providing cost advice and practical solutions on incorporating these initiatives into the facilities. Collectively, every individual and company present today can help to improve the use of our limited resources and reduce the impact on the environment.

Concluding Remarks

11 In conclusion, let me reiterate my belief that globalisation and integration herald a new era of opportunities for quantity surveyors and cost engineers. To seize these opportunities, it is important that your profession is equipped with the knowledge, technology and network to meet the complex needs of the international business environment. Organizations like the ICEC, PAQS and SISV can and do play a significant role in this regard and together, Singapore will be our best home if each one of us contributes to its development and jointly shape a sustainable and liveable city that reflects our shared aspirations and values as a society.

12 On this note, it is my pleasure to declare the 7^th ICEC and 14^th PAQS Congress officially open. Thank you.


	Date Published: 26 Jul 2010 Mr Goh Ngan Hong SISV President, Mr Teoh Wooi Sin PAQS Chairman, Mr Peter Cox ICEC Chairman, Distinguished Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen, I am pleased to join you this morning for the 7^th International Cost Engineering Council and 14^th Pacific Association of Quantity Surveyors Congress. Let me extend a warm welcome to all our international delegates. This Congress is yet another milestone for the International Cost Engineering Council (ICEC), Pacific Association of Quantity Surveyors (PAQS) and Singapore Institute of Surveyors and Valuers (SISV). Sustainable Cost Management: Borderless Innovation 2 The ICEC and PAQS are non-governmental and non-profit organizations that aim to promote cooperation between national and multinational cost engineering, quantity surveying and project management organisations worldwide for their mutual well-being and that of their individual members. Located in more than 40 countries and bringing together more than 120,000 cost engineers, quantity surveyors and project managers, ICEC and PAQS help to foster innovation with other relevant practices like project and facilities management, environmental sustainability, dispute resolution and more. 3 Against this backdrop, it is appropriate that the theme for this congress is “SUSTAINABLE COST MANAGEMENT: BORDERLESS INNOVATION”. In today’s society, globalisation and technology have resulted in an unprecedented flow of knowledge, goods, capital and people across borders in the real world. The internet has become the primary habitat of ideas, innovation and communication. Financial markets are profoundly inter-connected and no business plan is complete without an international strategy. The global industries highlight the need for enterprises to have an outward orientation if they are to seize the opportunities and withstand the challenges that arise from globalisation. 4 Quantity surveyors and cost engineers are not insulated from these trends. Now, we have more opportunities for cross-border practice and interaction. It is for this reason that SISV and other professional institutions have come together under the umbrella of ICEC and PAQS to establish a mutually recognized road map for members. This will allow all your members to pursue opportunities in diverse overseas industries. 5 However, to take advantage of business opportunities abroad, mutual recognition of professional qualifications alone is not sufficient. It is equally important that the profession establishes strong international networks and contacts, and continue to pursue professional development. 6 To this end, the ICEC and PAQS Congress serve as a valuable platform to facilitate the understanding of such practices for cross-border transactions and global opportunities. It is also a useful forum for the discussion of best practices and benchmarking, necessary to meet the increasingly high demands of the business community. Towards Sustainable Development 7 I am pleased to learn that sustainable development is a key issue that will be discussed at the Congress. Last year, the Singapore Government launched the Sustainable Singapore Blueprint –an inter-agency effort that charts the strategies and initiatives necessary for Singapore to achieve economic growth and a good living environment over the next two decades. One of the key components in our sustainable development journey is sustainable construction, which refers to adopting a green mindset in our construction processes, methods and materials, in order to minimize pollution to our environment, meeting the overall objective of environmental sustainability. 8 In Singapore, the Government has been encouraging our construction industry to adopt sustainable practices by putting in place design standards and practice codes to allow and facilitate the recycling of demolition waste for concrete production and to make recycled materials more accessible for use in construction. Funding is also available to help players in the sustainable construction supply chain build capabilities in technology and enhance their processes. In addition, sustainable construction components are incorporated into the Green Mark Scheme introduced by the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) –a certification scheme that rates the environmental sustainability of a building, in terms of its energy and resource usage. 9 To guide developers and industry professionals on how to integrate innovative waterscapes such as rain gardens and bio-retention swales into the built environment, PUB, the national water agency has also developed an Active-Beautiful-Clean Waters design guidebook. The design guidelines illustrate how easy it is to incorporate the green with the blue, and in turn, beautify the landscape, improve water quality and enhance our living environment. To take this a step further, PUB recently introduced the ABC Waters certification scheme to recognise the efforts made by the private and public sectors in creating a sustainable and more liveable city through the integration of ABC Waters concept in their developments. 10 Through these initiatives, we are now seeing the emergence of a diverse range of new eco-product offerings, from the use of solar energy to promoting recycling; in various vertical and horizontal segments. An example of a commercial development with green features is the City Square Mall, a Green Mark Platinum building. Amongst its resource-efficient features include the use of photovoltaics to harness solar energy and a pneumatic waste disposal system to improve indoor air quality. On the government front, the Zero Energy Building at BCA Academy is also an excellent showcase of advanced green building technologies like personalized cooling for occupants and vertical greenery to reduce solar gains and glare. Quantity surveyors and cost engineers naturally play an important role in this market, by providing cost advice and practical solutions on incorporating these initiatives into the facilities. Collectively, every individual and company present today can help to improve the use of our limited resources and reduce the impact on the environment. Concluding Remarks 11 In conclusion, let me reiterate my belief that globalisation and integration herald a new era of opportunities for quantity surveyors and cost engineers. To seize these opportunities, it is important that your profession is equipped with the knowledge, technology and network to meet the complex needs of the international business environment. Organizations like the ICEC, PAQS and SISV can and do play a significant role in this regard and together, Singapore will be our best home if each one of us contributes to its development and jointly shape a sustainable and liveable city that reflects our shared aspirations and values as a society. 12 On this note, it is my pleasure to declare the 7^th ICEC and 14^th PAQS Congress officially open. Thank you.