CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY (Nurturing of engineers and architects)

Mr Lew Syn Pau asked the Minister for National Development (a) how will his Ministry nurture local talents in the construction industry such as engineers and architects; and (b) in the tender for public projects, how can Government help our local engineers and architects to establish a track record that will enable them to compete more effectively for regional and other global projects.

Mr Mah Bow Tan: Mr Speaker, Sir, Singapore is an open economy where local architects and engineers compete on an equal basis for project work. Award of public sector projects by Government is open to both local and foreign consultancy firms. Singapore is also bound by its obligations under the WTO Agreement on Government Procurement. Our local firms will have to compete on merit. We cannot offer protection or preference to our local firms, such as stipulate that foreign firms must team up with local architects or engineers when tendering for Government projects.

When our local firms compete on merit, it will strengthen their competitiveness and capability. This includes tie-ups they could pursue with foreign firms which are often required to employ, or to link up with, local architects and engineers if they wish to practise in Singapore.

To ensure that our engineers and architects keep abreast of the latest industry trends and developments, the Board of Architects and the Professional Engineers Board will be introducing Continuing Professional Development Programmes. Other professional associations, such as the Singapore Institute of Architects and the Institution of Engineers, can also play a part in building up the expertise and professionalism of their members.