http://www.businesstimes.com.sg/arch...ore-river-area

Published August 14, 2012

Project to add oomph to Singapore River area

By zeinab yusuf saiwalla


IN a bid to liven up the precinct along the Singapore River, a not-for-profit entity called Singapore River One (SRO) - co-funded by the government and voluntary contributions from stakeholders - has been formed.

SRO will work with property owners and business operators along the Singapore River to execute a five- year business plan with the aim of making the precinct more vibrant and attractive to visitors.

Speaking at the launch of SRO yesterday, Minister of State for Manpower, Trade and Industry Lee Yi Shyan said: "There is some urgency to get down to work. On the domestic front, the Singapore River precinct competes against other places such as Marina Bay and Orchard Road. In the international arena, it will face even more competition."

SRO will embark on improving the connectivity of the three quays and the surrounding communities along the river. Plans also include a new mobile application that will have a search map to make it easy for visitors to access information about the river. Among its top priorities are designing and fixing signages to direct visitors from more popular adjacent sites such as Marina Bay Sands.

According to SRO executive director Ty Tabing, "given the fact that people have a lot of travel options, we have to seek to maintain standards".

Citing the example of Bangkok's Asiatique The Riverfront - which is being developed as a unique and vibrant destination celebrating the waterfront by the Chao Phraya River - Mr Tabing said: "We are cognisant of the competition in the area but we are not acting in response to any threat."

Quoting figures by the Singapore Tourism Board (STB), he added: "Out of the visitors to Singapore, only 18 per cent visit the Singapore River. So we have an opportunity to capture the remaining 82 per cent."

SRO's day-to-day operations are being led by Mr Tabing, who most recently ran the Chicago Loop Alliance, where he received international acclaim for his leadership in creating dynamic events, cultural celebrations and public art installations.

SRO's five-year business plan is the culmination of 18 months of brainstorming involving the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) and stakeholders comprising property owners and business operators.

URA will provide seed funding for the first three years to allow SRO to roll out initiatives and to build up its capabilities to implement projects, programmes and services in its business plan.

"URA's aim is to help the Singapore River fully realise its potential as a premier mixed-use recreational destination in Singapore." said URA CEO Ng Lang.

SRO is led by a board comprising 10 directors made up of stakeholders along the Singapore River, with Wilson Tan, director of CapitaLand Retail Management Pte Ltd, at the helm as protem chairman.

"Our vision is to make the Singapore River the premier destination for locals and visitors seeking an authentic Singapore experience in a place that connects the country's past to the present," said Mr Tan.