Singapore to Showcase Achievements in Balancing Development with Environmental Sustainability at Expo 2012, Yeosu, Korea

Singapore will showcase its achievements in balancing rapid urban development with environmental sustainability at the International Exposition Yeosu Korea 2012 (Expo 2012 Yeosu Korea), to be held from 12 May to 12 August 2012 in Yeosu, Republic of Korea. This exposition is expected to attract up to 8 million domestic and international visitors. (Further background on Expo 2012 Yeosu Korea is at Annex A.)

The 712 square-metre Singapore Pavilion will be housed within the International Pavilion, together with exhibitions from more than 100 other countries. With the theme of "Paradox-ity: City of Contrasts (奇趣狮城，巧妙对比)", the Singapore Pavilion aims to convey how Singapore balances growth and development with environmental sustainability through four main content segments: waste management, nature conservation, urban planning and water management.

A multi-agency project committee led by the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources (MEWR) has been formed to manage the Singapore Pavilion. (The list of participating government agencies is at Annex B.)

Project Director Mr. Eng Tiang Sing said: "We are very excited to participate in Expo 2012. Besides being an excellent platform to showcase and promote Singapore to a sizeable international audience, we hope Singapore's development story can be an useful case study to some of the world's rapidly growing cities in finding ways to create a healthy and attractive environment despite their urbanisation. This exposition also presents a good opportunity to foster closer people-to-people relations between Singapore and Republic of Korea, and cultivate a deeper understanding of each other's environmental practices, lifestyles and cultures."

More details on the Singapore Pavilion will be unveiled on singapore-expo2012.com in February 2012.

ANNEX A: BACKGROUND ON EXPO 2012 YEOSU KOREA

The city of Yeosu, Republic of Korea (ROK) will play host to Expo 2012 Yeosu Korea from 12 May to 12 August 2012.

Yeosu is located in the centre of the southern coast of the Korean peninsula and has an estimated population of about 300,000 as of 2010. Expo 2012 Yeosu Korea will be sited in the harbour area of the southeast coast of Yeosu.

As of January 2012, there are more than 100 participating countries that will hold their exhibitions in the International Pavilion, which occupies the largest area within the exposition site. The Singapore Pavilion will be located at a prime location on the first floor of the International Pavilion which is also near the main performance venues.

Expo 2012 Yeosu Korea is an International Exposition organised by the Bureau International des Expositions (the inter-governmental organisation in charge of Expositions). International Expositions are conceived as smaller-scaled expositions with specialised themes which are held in the intervening years between World Expositions, which are themselves held every five years and characteristically reflect themes of universal concern.

Singapore had participated in various World Expositions in the past, including Expo 2000 in Hanover, Germany, Expo 2005 in Aichi, Japan and more recently Expo 2010 in Shanghai, China.

ANNEX B: LIST OF PARTICIPATING GOVERNMENT AGENCIES

• Ministry of Foreign Affairs

• Ministry of National Development

• Building and Construction Authority

• National Parks Board

• Urban Redevelopment Authority

• Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources

• National Environment Agency

• PUB, the National Water Agency

• Ministry of Trade and Industry

• Singapore Tourism Board

• Ministry of Transport

• Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore

Source: Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources