Speech by SMS Desmond Lee at the Opening Ceremony of Shaping the Future of the Landscape Industry in Singapore
Apr 7, 2016
Good morning. I’m very happy to join you for this seminar on the future of Singapore’s landscape industry.
The Past Unlocks the Door to the Future
A green Singapore was a seed project that took root more than 50 years ago.
Our founding Prime Minister, the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew, had envisioned a Singapore that was not only prosperous, peaceful and safe, but also verdant, lush and green.
He felt that well-maintained landscapes represented more than a love for plants.
He believed that it represented close attentiveness.
His practical mind-set was that if Singapore was to attract foreign investment, the investors must be confident that the nation pays attention to details and to have a good first impression.
That’s why he was insistent that the city had to be clean and green.
Mr Lee was, of course, right.
Investors were impressed by the greenery, rule of law and our open and favourable business environment.
Today, greening is in our DNA.
We have made a conscious effort to set aside land for greenery despite intensive urban development.
Through this, we have developed many parks and introduced various species of flowering trees and plants to conserve our natural heritage.
We have also innovated and greened skywards.
Today, numerous parts of our city skyline are decorated with lush green walls and sky gardens.
Because of those who planted before us, we now have a firm foundation to build on, for the future of the landscape industry.
Sustainable Landscaping for a Greener Singapore
As a small island city-state, we face acute land and manpower constraints. Going forward, these constraints will only grow tighter.
We have been innovative in optimising our scarce land space, by closely integrating greenery with development. Having greened landwards and skywards, the next frontier is to green inwards.
The development of Jewel Changi Airport is an excellent example.
It will feature a five storey indoor garden known as the “Forest Valley” and will house Singapore’s largest indoor collection of plants.
To overcome the manpower constraint, we need to enhance the sustainability of landscaping.
There is much that the industry can do, such as choosing lower-maintenance plants, installing automatic irrigation systems, using planting media that require less watering, and adopting automation to prune greenery.
NParks has compiled landscape design guidelines that show how this can be done and we also fully support the industry in adopting automation through NParks’ Landscape Productivity Grant.
This would reduce our reliance on foreign manpower.
A Professional and Future-Ready Landscape Workforce
At the same time, we also need to develop a talent pool of Singaporeans who are productive, professional and future-ready to anchor the future of landscaping.
To achieve this, we are helping those interested in landscaping as a career to acquire the right skills.
NParks has launched several schemes to help local job seekers of all ages and educational backgrounds kickstart careers in landscaping.
For our students, NParks offers scholarships and awards every year to prepare students for careers in the industry.
In addition, resident mid-career switchers can gain practical job skills through NParks’ Landscape Apprenticeship Programme. It is important to underscore the importance of this sector. We are a City in a Garden, and this is out mark to the rest of the world.
Conclusion
The greenery in our reserves, parks, and streetscape that we enjoy today is a result of the vision and careful planning of our pioneers.
The future, however, depends on all of you – the practitioners of today and tomorrow.
As practitioners in the landscape industry, you embody qualities and carry on a tradition that shaped our image to the world.
You build on to our nation’s identity – our City in a Garden that has become our mark in the world.
To forge new ground, you will have to be versatile, innovative and bold.
If you can do so, I am confident that the future of the landscape industry will be bright and sustainable.
If there is anything I want you to take away from my speech, it is that our City in a Garden is special. It is something you cannot get for granted, and it would require your skills and ingenuity to keep it going for the next 50 years. Thank you.