Mr Liew Mun Leong, President & CEO, CapitaLand

Distinguished Guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good Evening. I am pleased to join you today to celebrate the official opening of the NEW Clarke Quay.

2. Clarke Quay has always been a bustling commercial centre. In its early days, bumboats and lighters jostled bow and stern to dock and unload their goods into the warehouses. Today, against the historical architectural setting, Clarke Quay is still buzzing with life and activities. The waterfront godowns now play host to a kaleidoscope of restaurants, wine bars, entertainment spots and retail shops. One can also take a scenic bumboat ride down the river, reliving Singapore’s history and at the same time experience the pulsating city beat.

3. The transformation of Clarke Quay began in the 1990s when the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) undertook the task of planning for the river and working with other public agencies to breathe new life to the riverfront - outdoor refreshment areas were introduced along the river banks, buildings conserved, tree-lined promenades designed, etc. The makeover did not stop there.

4. Clarke Quay has always been regularly refreshed to retain its allure. It has, however, never been so completely transformed as these latest changes that we have witnessed. Over the last two years, we have seen remarkable changes that have got, not only Singaporeans, but also people from abroad talk about them. Early this year, The New York Times highlighted Clarke Quay as a project that has transformed and enlivened the city. I can see for myself how the S$85 million facelift has truly transformed Clarke Quay into one of Singapore’s world-class entertainment hubs.

5. Today, not only has Clarke Quay become one of the most talked about dining and night entertainment destinations amongst the locals, it is also clearly one of the must visit spots for tourists. The introduction of a critical mass of new and exciting concepts, including Crazy Horse, Ministry of Sound, and most recently, The Cannery, has paved the way for Singapore to become Asia’s top night entertainment destination. Visitors are spoilt for choice amongst the numerous entertainment outlets that have opened at the revamped Clarke Quay.

6. The successful conservation and revitalisation of Clarke Quay is a showcase of how the public sector and private sector can collaborate to make Singapore a distinctive global city and achieve our tourism vision, i.e. to double tourism arrivals to 17 million and triple tourism receipts to S$30 billion by 2015.

7. I commend CapitaLand for creatively injecting a new lease of life to Clarke Quay, and at the same time successfully retaining its strong heritage. I would also like to congratulate CapitaLand on the official opening of the revitalised Clarke Quay. I am confident that CapitaLand is well on its way in achieving the vision for Clarke Quay to become the premier F&B, entertainment and lifestyle riverfront hub, not only in Singapore but also within the region.

Thank you.

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