Issue 47 a Newsletter of the Singapore Cooperation Programme

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Higher Country Building Learning Colours Bridges A revival of Red and white, and Forging ties with Nalanda University a part of S’pore’s the Carribean in Bihar everyday life Community

JUL – SEP 2013 / ISSUE 47 A NEWSLETTER OF THE SINGAPORE COOPERATION PROGRAMME

In High Spirits Singapore’s National Day Parade 2013 is a sight and sound spectacular

Cover V7.indd 3 19/12/13 5:14 PM Ed’s Note CONTENTS 3 FOCUS Celebrations, Dear readers, big and small Besides a spectacular show on 9 August 2013 staged ingapore celebrated its 48th National Day on 9 August on a fl oating platform, 2013 with a spectacular parade that was themed ‘Many Singapore also celebrated Stories…One Singapore’. Celebrations, Big and Small the 48th anniversary of gives an idea of how 6,000 participants and 26,000 its independence in spectators, mostly dressed in red and white (the colours other ways of Singapore’s ƃ ag), came together to celebrate the stories that each Singaporean has to share. 6 IN SINGAPORE SBut Singaporeans ‘celebrate’ their nation each and every day too! Country colours Find out how in Country Colours which feature familiar sights around The Singapore fl ag is Singapore that are in red and white, from historical buildings, food red and white, and some to dwellings. familiar icons of Singapore Beyond home, Singapore celebrates too. The country’s ties are decked out in these with India goes back a long way, and Minister for Foreign Affairs colours too! K Shanmugam’s July visit to the Indian state of Bihar reafƂ rmed these ties. 8 REFLECTIONS Singapore is also playing a part in Bihar A higher state state’s revived Nalanda University, now of learning under construction. Find out more in How Singapore plays A Higher State of Learning. a part in the revival of On the other side of the world, Nalanda University in Singapore is continuing to forge strong the Indian state of Bihar alliances too, and Building Bridges gives details of how relations between 10 JOINING HANDS the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Building bridges and Singapore have been strengthened A recent visit by CARICOM by a high level Ministerial Exchange Visit offi cials paved the way comprising CARICOM representatives. for greater exchange of An enhanced Technical Assistance ideas and knowledge Package was also announced during this visit which would see more CARICOM senior ofƂ cials visit Singapore for customised training courses and study visits. Country Colours, pg6 These new initiatives will encourage a greater exchange of ideas and knowledge and foster a better understanding of cultures and heritage. All reasons for celebrating, indeed! We hope you enjoy this issue of Experience Singapore.

Keep All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. in touch! Printed in Singapore by Times Printers. Share with us your memories, Director www.timesprinters.com. ISSN: 0219-2896 Public Affairs Directorate photos and experiences in Singapore under the Experience Singapore is a publication of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Singapore Singapore Cooperation Public Affairs and Technical Cooperation Programme. Email us at Directorates of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, [email protected]. Singapore. The Singapore Cooperation Programme (SCP) is administered by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Singapore, and is aimed at sharing Singapore’s developmental experience with other developing countries.

Cover photo by Xxxxxx Publishing Consultant www.scp.gov.sg Like SCP Alumni on Facebook Follow us on Twitter @MFAsg MediaCorp Pte Ltd

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ExperienceSg V9.indd 2 20/12/13 10:58 AM Focus IN HIGH SPIRITS Celebrations, and bigsmall Besides a spectacular show on 9 August 2013 staged on a ﬂ oating platform, Singapore celebrated the 48 th anniversary of The main event 26,000 spectators and 6,000 partici- its independence in pants were involved as Singapore marked its 48th National Day with

other ways too! the theme “Many Stories… One

Photos: Corbis, Shutterstock WORDS BY GENE KHOR Singapore” with a celebration that involved displays from students from various schools, voluntary and grassroots organisations, govern- ment bodies as well as teams from the Singapore Army, Singapore Civil Defence Force, Republic of Singapore Navy and the Singapore Police Force, among others. Ending the three-hour parade was a daz- zling Ƃ reworks display which lit up the night sky.

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ExperienceSg V9.indd 3 20/12/13 10:58 AM Multi-cultural diversity Focus The Islamic holiday of Hari Raya Puasa was WATER CONSERVATION just a day before National Day, so Dunearn Secondary School celebrated both occasions on 7 August 2013 as a tribute to Singapore’s multi- cultural diversity. The festivities concluded with students and teachers of the school singing Singapore’s national anthem ‘Majulah Singapura’ and reciting the national pledge.

In a special way Singapore strives to be an inclusive society, and students with special needs from Eden School contributed something special for the nation’s birthday. They made decorative ƃ ags for their classrooms, while some of them also took part in a fashion show at the school’s National Day concert on 6 August 2013 and paraded in National Day-themed outƂ ts.

Animal antics The Singapore Zoo is one of the best in the world and home to over 2,800 animals repre- senting over 300 species – and Floral tribute a couple of them were feeling rather patriotic! On 9 August At Gardens by the Bay, a park that 2013, special performances houses over 250,000 rare plants were held, including one where from all over the world, visitors Gambir the Asian elephant per- got to see a special ƃ oral display formed a ƃ ag-raising ceremony, between 5 August to 1 September and Andi the California sea lion 2013. As a tribute to the colours waved the Singapore ƃ ag and and symbols of the national ƃ ag, unveiled a banner to wish the red-and-white ƃ ora like orchids, audience a happy National Day. roses and begonias were presented in Ƃ ve star-shaped containers.

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ExperienceSg V9.indd 4 19/12/13 5:13 PM Focus IN HIGH SPIRITS

Youthful energy Since 2007, *SCAPE has been a venue for youths in Singapore Bonding over food to pursue a broad spectrum of interests like music, dance, fashion, In two neighbourhoods in eastern and sports. On 9 August 2013, Singapore, street parties were held the youth hub was transformed on 9 August 2013 with curry as the into a showcase for home-grown main course. Four versions were performers. *SCAPE A Nation, an served in the culinary traditions event organised by young vol- of Singapore’s four main races – unteers to celebrate Singapore’s Chinese, Malay, Indian and Eura- birthday, featured lively sets by sian. This communal meal was part rock bands, dance showcases and of the Big Makan – ‘makan’ mean- an after-party with club music. ing ‘eat’ in Malay – an inaugural event organised by the Singapore Kindness Movement, a non-proƂ t organisation that executes public education programs aimed at cultivating kindness and gracious- ness in Singaporean society.

Primary colours In Eunos, located in eastern Singapore, residents showed that age wasn’t a barrier to their community bond as 135 participants, young and old, came together on 18 August 2013 for the inaugural residents’ parade procession. Waving the Singapore ƃ ag and wearing red shirts, they turned the common areas in the housing estate into a sea of red and white.

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ExperienceSg V9.indd 5 19/12/13 5:13 PM ExperienceSg V9.indd6 WORDS BY GENE KHOR BYGENE WORDS DECKED OUT INTHESE COLOURS TOO! SOME FAMILIAR ICONS OF SINGAPORE ARE VIRTUE. AND PURITY EVERLASTING AND EQUALITYAND WHITE OF MAN, FOR PERVADING RED TO SYMBOLISE UNIVERSAL BROTHERHOOD THE SINGAPORE FLAG ISRED WHITE AND — 6 is hometohundreds oftypes ofginger. Garden atSingapore BotanicGardens assam laksanoodles.TheGinger aromatic indisheslikesour-and-spicy torch gingerplantare usedasan buds andtenderinnerpartsofthe Native toSoutheastAsia,the JUL - SEP 2013 -SEP JUL

COUNTRY TORCH GINGER In Singapore In ISSUE 47 COLOURS SEEING RED AND WHITE RED SEEING ƃ ower ower deep-fried or steamed bun. deep-fried orsteamedbun. and eatenwithmantou,a restaurants around theisland is foundatmanyseafood famous dishes,chillicrab One ofSingapore’s most

CHILLI CRAB chilli padi — and is also used as a condiment. chilli padi—and isalsousedasacondiment. such asthespicy chickencurrydish,ayamlemak features inmanydishesservedSingapore — larger counterparts.Chillipadi,orbird’s eyechilli, This tinychillipepperismuch spicierthanits

CHILLI PADI

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Photo: Singapore Tourism Board and Shutterstock RED LIONS SELEGIE HOUSE The spectacular freefall dis- Selegie House was one of the plays of the award-winning tallest Housing & Development Singapore Armed Forces Par- Board ƃ ats in Singapore upon its achute Team — the Red Lions completion in 1963. Now paint- — are a perennial crowd fa- ed red-and-white, the building vourite at each year’s National stands out among public hous- Day Parade. ing projects in Singapore.

CENTRALC FIRE STATION BuiltBui in 1909, the Central Fire StationStat on Hill Street is the oldestolde operational Ƃ re station in Singapore. This historic buildingbuild was gazetted as a nationalnatio monument in 1998.

ANG KU KUEH Ang ku kueh — or ‘red tortoise’ cake — is a traditional Chinese pastry made of a glutinous rice ƃ our skin stuffed with a sweet Ƃ lling of green bean paste or minced peanuts. It’s often eaten on festive occasions.

LIONSXII FANS In 2012, the LionsXII national RED DOT DESIGN MUSEUM football squad marked the Housed in the former Singa- return of Singapore to the pore TrafƂ c Police Headquar- Malaysian football league. ters built in 1928, the Red Dot And with a 4-0 win in front Design Museum — estab- of an 8,000-strong home lished in 2005 — houses more crowd, much of whom was than 1,000 exhibits, each of decked out in red-and-white, which is a winner of an interna- the LionsXII became league tional Red Dot Design award. champions in July this year.

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ExperienceSg V9.indd 7 20/12/13 10:58 AM Mr Shanmugam (centre, in white shirt), and others at the site of Nalanda University Campus.

ASSISTING IN AN EDUCATIONAL REVIVAL

A higher state

IN JULY 2013, Singapore’s Minister of learning for Foreign Affairs K Shanmugam, took a working trip to India, a country with whom the Republic Close ties between Singapore and India were enjoys close ties. Mr Shanmugam visited New Delhi and the state of reafﬁ rmed during a visit to New Delhi and Bihar in northern India. While in the Indian state of Bihar by the Republic’s Bihar, Mr Shanmugam visited the site of the new Nalanda University, Minister for Foreign Affairs K Shanmugam. which is being built in the spirit of the earlier institute of higher learning in Nalanda. Between the 5th and 12th century, Nalanda was a centre of learning for scholars from across Asia. Students came from all Photo: Shutterstock

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ExperienceSg V9.indd 8 23/12/13 11:26 AM over Asia to study Ƃ ne arts, science can uncover how all these socie- and medicine at one of the world’s ties are more inter-linked than many Ƃ rst residential universities. But the people realise. original Nalanda University was Of the Indian project, Mr destroyed in an attack at the end Shanmugam said, “The Nalanda of the 12th century, and the town University is something that many around it fell into ruin. Singaporeans have been involved However, the once-great edu- in. It is a great centre of learning cational hub has gained a new lease and people from all over the world of life. In January 2007, plans to come here. It is part of the project revive the University were endorsed that India has started, as part of a by the East Asia Summit (EAS) in wider engagement with East Asia. Cebu, Philippines. A new Nalanda My intention of coming was to see University is being built 12km from The Vice- Upon completion in 2020, Nalanda it for myself because there is a lot Chancellor the ancient one on a 182-hectare explaining the University will admit an annual in- of interest in Singapore, and to see plot near Patna, the capital of Bihar, model of the take of 2,500 Indian and interna- how we can continue to play a role.” Master Plan of with construction to begin in 2014. the campus to tional graduate students who will Singapore has already pledged Mr Shanmugam pursue intellectual, philosophical, to design and fund the building of and his wife, Dr Seetha historical and spiritual studies. the University’s library. Sitting on Shanmugam. Singapore has been supportive the University’s Governing Board of this important Indian initiative, as are Singapore’s former Minister for the University will strengthen the Foreign Affairs, Mr George Yeo, and links between India and East Asia. National University of Singapore Mr Shanmugam visited Nalanda on Professor and Chairman of the 29 July 2013 to see Ƃ rst-hand the Management Board of the Lee progress of the project and dem- Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, onstrate Singapore’s support for Professor Wang Gungwu. Mr Yeo is the project. also the chair of Nalanda University’s India plays an important role International Advisory Panel. in shaping a stable regional order Singapore also continues to and its “Look East” policy laid the extend support for the Nalanda foundation for its engagement of University project through aca- Southeast Asia and the rest of the demic and cultural projects. The region. The Nalanda University Nalanda-Sriwijaya Centre has been project will revitalise India’s ancient set up in the Institute of Southeast cultural role as a hub for higher Asian Studies (ISEAS) to research learning, and it represents the historical interactions between country’s contribution to the EAS Asian societies and civilisations and process of fostering regional dia- has published several books on the logue and cooperation. connectedness of Asian societies through history. In March 2012, an BENEFITS FOR SINGAPORE “On the Nalanda Trail” exhibition AND ASEAN was held at the Asian Civilisations ASEAN — the Association of Museum in Singapore. Southeast Asian Nations, of which Singapore is a founding member INVOLVING INDIA — is a diverse region with many An India that is engaged in the re- distinct cultures and languages. But gion beneƂ ts the whole region. through education, and especially And in this vein, looking ahead, Mr higher learning, greater mutual Shanmugam hopes to see India understanding can be fostered work on a full air transport agree- about the region’s rich history, cul- ment that includes passenger ser- ture and heritage. Singapore was vices with ASEAN countries. “If you thus one of the early supporters of look at it in terms of cross ƃ ow of the Nalanda project, as educational people, nearly 700,000 Indians visit and cultural cooperation is an area Singapore and a signiƂ cant num- of common interest for ASEAN and ber of Singaporeans visit India,” he other major Asian countries like said. “[In terms of] air connectivity, India, China, Japan and South Korea. I am told there are 400 ƃ ights [be- In fact, cooperation in education tween Singapore and India every week] and it is not enough. We are The Nalanda seeking to do more. In fact, if there ruins site, with the main stupa in is better air connectivity, a lot more the background. can be done.”

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ExperienceSg V9.indd 9 23/12/13 11:26 AM Joining Hands DEEPENING RELATIONS WITH CARICOM Building bridges At the inaugural high-level Ministerial Exchange Visit in July, Singapore looks to deepen relations with the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).

T THE INVITATION OF ASingapore Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Law K Shanmugam, Ministers and senior ofƂ cials from 10 Caribbean countries and the Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) visited Singapore from 15 to 19 July 2013 for the inaugural CARICOM High-Level Ministerial Exchange Visit. The Ministers and senior Minister for Foreign Affairs ofƂ cials were from Antigua and and Minister for Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Law K Shanmugam (second from left) hosting the CARICOM delegation at the welcome ceremony.

“In diverse areas spanning climate change and human rights, through to maritime and aviation issues, Singapore and the CARICOM states have found “strength in numbers,” said Minister Shanmugam. “Like many CARICOM states, we are also active members of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) and the Small Island Developing States (SIDS). These groupings provide the common space for small states to share their experiences and strategies for development, and to exchange views on issues concerning global governance.” CARICOM Secretary-General Irwin LaRocque agreed with Belize, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, CARICOM Minister Shanmugam’s remarks, delegation at Saint Lucia, Suriname, and Trinidad Minister Shanmugam highlighted the NEWater and said: “CARICOM Member and Tobago. the growing economic and political Visitors’ Centre. States have enjoyed excellent ties between Singapore and the relations with Singapore over many A NEW BEGINNING Caribbean, and how Singapore’s years, [...] but I think this visit marks This inaugural high-level Ministerial closer engagement with CARICOM a new beginning. It opens up Exchange Visit heralds a fresh countries have been invaluable room for greater cooperation in step forward in Singapore and in Ƃ nding common ground and the international community.” CARICOM relations. shared interests on bilateral and The delegation was given brief- At the welcome ceremony held global issues. ings by Singapore ministries and

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ExperienceSg V9.indd 10 19/12/13 5:14 PM The CARICOM delegation visiting the Pinnacle@Duxton, an iconic project in Singapore’s public housing history

During the High-Level Min- isterial Exchange Visit, Minister Shanmugam unveiled an Enhanced Technical Assistance Package for the CARICOM. Under this enhan- found Singapore’s way of sustaina- ced package, CARICOM ofƂ cials ble water management innovative. will be accorded some priority Bahamas Minister of Foreign places in training courses offered Affairs and Immigration Frederick by the Singapore Cooperation Mitchell said, “Water is a very seri- Programme (SCP). Singapore also ous issue in the Bahamas. There is agreed to organise customised a lot of thinking [about what could] training courses and study visits for be done when we get back home senior CARICOM ofƂ cials on sub- [in connection] with the things that jects most relevant to their devel- we have learnt here.” opment. Singapore will also award The delegation also paid a joint some post-graduate scholarships courtesy call on Prime Minister Lee to CARICOM ofƂ cials. Hsien Loong. They exchanged “We hope that these new views on developments in the initiatives will encourage a greater Caribbean and Asia. They also exchange of ideas and knowl- spoke about how Singapore and edge among our ofƂ cials, and CARICOM countries could collab- foster a better understanding of orate bilaterally, between regions, our respective cultures and herit- agencies on subjects of interest to CARICOM and on multilateral platforms, age between our people,” said delegation them such as civil aviation, waste receiving a in order to build closer links and Minister Shanmugam. and water management, and urban briefi ng at explore new cooperation areas. “The visit has really served to the Urban planning. The delegation also Redevelopment illustrate what we have been hearing visited the NEWater Visitor Centre, Authority. FOSTERING GREATER TIES for many years about the successes the Marina Barrage, Urban Rede- Singapore has also been stead- of Singapore,” said Barbados’ velopment Authority, the Singapore ily deepening relations with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Aviation Academy and other sites to CARICOM through strengthen- Foreign Trade Maxine Mcclean. complement their brieƂ ngs. ing people-to-people relations “I think what it has done is to share The NEWater centre and Marina and institutional links. In 2011, [with us] some of [Singapore’s] best Barrage left a deep impression on Ambassador Kemal Siddique was practices. It allowed us to make the delegation, as many CARICOM appointed as Singapore’s Ƃ rst comparisons in terms of what we are countries faced similar geographi- Plenipotentiary Representative to currently doing and what we [could] cal and water constraints, and they the CARICOM. do in our respective countries.”

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ExperienceSg V9.indd 11 23/12/13 11:30 AM Cover V7.indd 2 19/12/13 5:15 PM