KNOWLEDGE INNOVATION VISIONARY PARTNERSHIP “ China and Singapore are very different. Yet, we share much in common. We aspire to strengthen the three key pillars of building a competitive economy, cohesive society and sustainable environment. The joint development of the VISIONARY Suzhou Industrial Park (SIP) has provided a special platform for the leaders on both sides to share and learn from each other. Together, we have created a SIP that is pro-business, pro-worker and pro-environment, all at the same time. PARTNERSHIP This, in essence, is what the Singapore Software is all about.” Mr Lim Swee Say, then-Minister of Manpower, Singapore KNOWLEDGE “ The Suzhou Industrial Park (SIP) has evolved to be a successful model for sustainable economic development for cities across the world, epitomising an inclusive, vibrant INNOVATION community. SIP has proven to be capable of surmounting multi-dimensional challenges of urban governance, attaining key UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly the SDGs on Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, and Lessons and Insights Sustainable Cities and Communities.” from the China-Singapore Suzhou Industrial Park from the China-Singapore Lessons and Insights Ms Maimunah Mohd Sharif, UN–Habitat, Executive Director Suzhou Industrial Park Visionary Partnership, Knowledge Innovation: Lessons and Insights from the China-Singapore Suzhou Industrial Park seeks to distil the key lessons and insights from the development experience of the Suzhou Industrial Park (SIP) in China. Besides discussing the shared journey undertaken by Singapore and China, the publication delves into areas of experience and guiding principles that would be relevant and applicable to the urbanisation challenges of cities within China and internationally. Through extensive research and interviews with pioneers and experts from Singapore and China who were involved in the SIP at various stages of its development, this book is a useful, practical reference for policy-makers, mayors, industry leaders and academics interested in understanding the SIP’s evolution in becoming an economically vibrant and liveable city. THE FIRST GOVERNMENT-TO-GOVERNMENT PROJECT BETWEEN SINGAPORE AND CHINA THAT DEMONSTRATES THE POLITICAL WILL AND COMMON INTEREST IN JOINT DEVELOPMENT AND SHARED PROSPERITY A division of the A division of the In Commemoration of China-Singapore Suzhou Industrial Park's 25th anniversary 3 VISIONARY PARTNERSHIP | KNOWLEDGE INNOVATION Lessons and Insights from the China-Singapore Suzhou Industrial Park ©2019 Centre for Liveable Cities (CLC), Singapore and Suzhou Industrial Park Administrative Committee (SIPAC). All rights reserved. CLC is a division of VISIONARY Set up in 2008 by the Ministry of National Development and the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, the Centre for Liveable Cities (CLC) has as its mission “to distil, create and share knowledge on liveable and sustainable cities”. The CLC’s work spans four main areas — Research, PARTNERSHIP Capability Development, Knowledge Platforms, and Advisory. Through these activities, the CLC hopes to provide urban leaders and practitioners with the knowledge and support needed to make our cities better. KNOWLEDGE The Suzhou Industrial Park Administrative Committee (SIPAC) was established in February 1994 as an agency under the Suzhou Municipal INNOVATION Government to manage Suzhou Industrial Park (SIP). The SIP’s administrative area spans 288 sq km, within which is the 80-sq km China-Singapore Collaborative Area. The cooperative area consists of four sub-districts and is home to a population of approximately 807,800. Lessons and Insights Centre for Liveable Cities Suzhou Industrial Park from the China-Singapore 45 Maxwell Road Administrative Committee Suzhou Industrial Park #07-01 The URA Centre 999 Xiandai Avenue, Xiandai Building Singapore 069118 Suzhou Industrial Park www.clc.gov.sg Jiangsu Province P.R. China 215028 www.sipac.gov.cn Editor Koh Buck Song THE FIRST GOVERNMENT-TO-GOVERNMENT Translator Chow Wan Ee PROJECT BETWEEN SINGAPORE AND CHINA Designer Sylvia Sin THAT DEMONSTRATES THE POLITICAL WILL AND COMMON INTEREST IN JOINT ISBN #978-981-11-7798-9 (print) DEVELOPMENT AND SHARED PROSPERITY All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without prior written permission of the publisher. Every effort has been made to trace all sources and copyright holders of news articles, figures and information in this book before publication. If any have been inadvertently overlooked, the CLC and the SIPAC will ensure that full credit is given at the earliest opportunity. For feedback and comments, please email [email protected]. 4 VISIONARY PARTNERSHIP | KNOWLEDGE INNOVATION Lessons and Insights from the China-Singapore Suzhou Industrial Park “Suzhou Industrial Park is “Singapore’s social order is a grand, unprecedented rather good. Its leaders exercise cooperation plan between strict management. We should the governments of the learn from their experience two countries.” and do an even better job.” Lee Kuan Yew Deng Xiaoping in his speech at a meeting celebrating the during his southern tour in 1992 10th Anniversary of the SIP on 9 June 2004 2 3 VISIONARY PARTNERSHIP | KNOWLEDGE INNOVATION Lessons and Insights from the China-Singapore Suzhou Industrial Park CONTENTS Foreword Planning as Priority with Systematic Innovation 62 Lawrence Wong Planning Concept and Features 62 Minister for National Development and Concept Plan and Site Selection 62 Second Minister for Finance, Singapore 8 Master Plan and Three-Phase Development 64 Chen Deming Box Story: Former Minister of Commerce of the People's Republic of China 10 Surbana Jurong — Developing Quality Towns in the SIP 70 Preface 14 Khoo Teng Chye Plan Management and Implementation 72 Executive Director, Centre for Liveable Cities, Singapore Ding Lixin CHAPTER 3 Chairman, Suzhou Industrial Park Administrative Committee Building Foundations and Accelerating Development 78 CHAPTER 1 1994-2000: Laying The Foundation and Building a Relatively Independent Modern Industrial Township 82 Inception and Significance 22 Planning Systematically and Thinking Long-Term 83 Introduction 24 Jiutong Yiping at its Best 83 Objective 26 Box Story: Bilateral Significance 26 Zhongxin Group — Inception of the Suzhou Industrial Park (SIP) 28 Joining Efforts to Take Water from Taihu Lake 86 Synergistic Window of Opportunity 28 Drawing on Collective Wisdom to Level Land 88 Singapore’s Experience: Growing the External Wing 28 Weaving a Well-Connected Road Network 92 China’s Experience: Reform and Opening-up Policy 30 Attracting Investments and Creating Project Initiation and Strategic Location of Suzhou 34 a Pro-Business Environment 95 Facilitating Investments with Ready-Built Factories 95 Inking of Landmark Agreements 38 Box Story: Ascendas-Singbridge — CHAPTER 2 Establishing Dynamic Public-Private Partnership in Brand-Building 98 42 Governance and Sound Institutions Selecting Investments for a Strategic Fit 100 Cooperation with Mutual Trust and Foresight 46 Building “Training Labs” to Develop a Skilled Workforce 104 Multi-Level Cooperative Mechanism 46 Streamlining Administration for Better Services 105 Coordinated Software Transfer 49 Pro-business Services and Progressive Concepts 105 Efficient and Integrated Institutions 52 Comprehensive Arrangements for Resettled Residents 108 China-Singapore Joint Venture Enterprise 55 Neighbourhood Centres and Communities Preferential Policies Providing Development Advantages 58 for Convenient Living 113 VISIONARY PARTNERSHIP | KNOWLEDGE INNOVATION Lessons and Insights from the China-Singapore Suzhou Industrial Park CONTENTS continued 2001-2005: Accelerating Development 119 CHAPTER 5 Urban Profile Taking Shape 121 Distilling Insights And Forging Ahead 196 Amenities that Create Liveable Communities 121 The SIP’s Achievements 200 Balancing Working and Living for Convenient Commuting 126 The SIP’s Experience 206 Building an Eco-Structure and Creating Green Spaces 127 Adapting and Innovating to Gain Rapidly Growing Industrial Clusters 128 Competitive Advantage 206 First Mover on “Green Channel” Initiative 138 Adaptation 206 Innovation 208 CHAPTER 4 Harmonising and Achieving Win-Win: Transforming and Upgrading the SIP 146 Building an Exceptional and Liveable New Township 210 2006-2011: Transformation and Upgrading 150 Harmony 210 Using Urban Design to Create Identity 151 Win-Win for All 214 Box Story: Looking Ahead 217 A Handsome View, a Vital Life 164 Industrial Transformation to Improve Vitality 167 “2+3+1” Modern Industrial Upgrading 167 Epilogue 218 Talent Development for the Technology and Education Innovation Zone 168 Annex Box Story: Singapore Liveability Framework 220 Alphamab — Setting off from the SIP, Forging into Domestic and International Markets 170 “Twin-Axes” Development of Modern Services 172 State-Owned Assets and Enterprises to lead in the SIP’s Development 178 2012-Now: High Quality Development 180 R&D and Innovation for Emerging Industries 182 Caring for and Enriching the People, and Unifying the Community 187 Box Story: InnoLight Technology — The Suzhou Industrial Park — A Place for Budding Entrepreneurs 189 Venturing Out and Sharing Experiences 191 VISIONARY PARTNERSHIP | KNOWLEDGE INNOVATION Lessons and Insights from the China-Singapore Suzhou Industrial Park FOREWORD The objective of this publication is to capture