SINGAPORE LAUNCHES LEE KUAN YEW WORLD CITY PRIZE

By Zakaria Abdul Wahab

SINGAPORE, June 23 (Bernama) –- Singapore on Monday launched the inaugural
Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize which seeks to recognise the achievements of an
outstanding individual or organisation who has greatly contributed to the
improvement of urban life quality.

The biennial international award was announced by Singapore’s Senior
Minister and Co-ordinating Minister for National Security, Professor S Jayakumar
at the opening ceremony of the Singapore International Water Week, here Monday
night.

The award, co-organised by Singapore’s Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA)
and the Centre for Livable Cities, focuses on four key pillars, namely
livability, vibrancy, sustainability and quality of life, which are the key
ingredients that are instrumental to the success of every city and its quality
of urban life.

The prize will place an emphasis on practical and cost effective
solutions
and ideas that can generate impactful social, economic and environmental
benefits, and as far as possible, can be replicated across cities and
communities around the world, according to URA.

The Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize is the second Lee Kuan Yew prize to be
launched, with the first being the inaugural Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize launched
last year.

Both prizes harness the spirit of innovation and foresight, and celebrate
the pinnacles of excellence in different fields and industries that contribute
to the development of vibrant, livable and sustainable cities and urban
communities around the world.

The award which carries a cash prize of S$300,000, a gold medallion and an
award certificate, will be presented in June 2010 together with the Lee Kuan Yew
Water Prize during the World Cities Summit 2010 in Singapore.

The nomination for the prize is now open and will close on Nov 30.

The nominee or nominated organisation for the prize should be a key leader
who has contributed to city excellence by providing an outstanding solution to
solving urban problems facing communities and cities today.

Nominations for the award are accepted only from organisations and leaders
in the field of urban planning, housing, transport management, urban design and
architecture, energy conservation, urban policy and management.

Leading academics in the relevant fields, heads of international
organisations, members of government and individuals and organisations deemed
fit by the prize nominating committee could also be nominated, URA said.

Full details of the prize can be found at
www.leekuanyewworldcityprize.com.sg.

-– BERNAMA