The Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-city is seeing increased competition, as another landmark eco-city forms in Tianjin.
Headed by an Italian consortium, the design of the Eco Nanhe Town — Nanhe Jingwu takes inspiration from the urban studies of Leonardo da Vinci for Milan in the late 15th century and the urban structure of Beijing’s Forbidden City.
Sitting on a 13 sq km site, the project will likely comprise residential buildings for 75,000 people, schools, commercial buildings, medical amenities, entertainment facilities and a science park.
This is one of the hundreds of eco-cities that have taken shape in the country, as local officials exploit the trend, teaming up with private-sector partners, in many cases.
The contract to develop the Italian eco-city was said to be awarded by the Nanhe municipal government only months after the joint venture (JV) agreement between the Keppel Corp-led Singapore consortium and the Chinese consortium for the Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-city.
However, the Singapore group is undaunted. “Competition is good as it keeps us on our toes,” said Ho Tong Yen, CEO of SSTEC, the master developer of the bilateral project.
“In China, competition for investments is a reality that any city has to face,” he said. It was not surprising that more eco-cities would take place, considering the increasing awareness of the importance of sustainable development, he added.
Meanwhile, local officials at Tangshan are also pursuing their own “green” ambitions. They are now working on the Tangshan Nanhu Eco-City, where Singapore-listed property developers Ho Bee Group and Yanlord are building high-end residential properties that conform to international standards for energy conservation.