Singapore, Kerala ink collaboration deal on urban governance

The Singapore Cooperation Council will be implementing the programme with USD 633,802 funding from the foundation and USD 90,656 from the Kerala government.

The programme would help 120 Kerala officials to draw up development and infrastructure plans to improve urban and waterfront planning, facilities, water management and deal with solid waste, according to a report in The Straits Times here on Tuesday.

Yesterday, a collaboration deal was signed here by Kerala government Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh and the Singapore state-owned council's chief executive Alphonsus Chia.

At present, a 15-official Kerala delegation is in the city state to kick-start the programme with a five-day policy roundtable on the strategy and implementation for urban governance and management.

"The sharing of ideas and experiences in the programme's workshops would enable the urban managers and administrators to formulate action plans to meet the strategic goals," said Singh.

While Chia has expressed the hope that the programme would be a "long and fruitful exchange", not just between the two governments but between the private sectors.