Singapore's Foreign and Trade and Industry ministries have jointly set up ''Singapore Cooperation Enterprise,'' a non-profit company to ''market and export Singapore's public sector expertise.''
They are eyeing Singapore's expertise in areas such as transportation, airport and port management, education systems, e-government, infrastructure, health and security, officials said at the press conference.
They are also keen to get Singapore involved in the development and management of industrial parks and special economic zones.
The countries that have shown interest are mainly from the Middle East, but also China, India and countries from Southeast Asia, Central Asia and Africa have also made inquiries.
"We will share...with foreign governments keen to tap our experience in building a world-class physical, social and economic infrastructure," Peter Ong, permanent secretary in the Ministry of Trade and Industry, who is vice chairman of the new company, was quoted by Kyodo sa saying.
"When a foreign government puts up a request for Singapore to replicate a successful Singaporean model in their country, SCE may structure the project to include both public and private sector expertise in its package delivery," he said.
The one-stop center will coordinate with other government ministries and agencies to provide the service.
Although the company will only charge on a ''cost-recovery basis,'' the move is widely expected to open new business opportunities for local and foreign companies in Singapore.
It is widely known China has been keen to learn from Singapore's political and economic development model.
The officials said that after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in the United States, many Middle Eastern countries, which felt less welcome in Western countries, have also started to turn to Singapore for help.
The company, established in May this year, has already started work on 15 to 20 projects, of which half involve the Middle East.
Quelle/Source: Antara, 13.07.2006
