Singapore to host global housing forum
Singapore is set to host the International Housing Forum (IHF 2017), where about 400 professionals and policy makers from around the world will meet together to share ideas and good practices on planning and providing homes.
To be held at HDB Hub on 7-8 September, the prestigious event will be officiated by Minister for National Development Lawrence Wong, who is also the Second Minister for Finance.
With the theme “Sustainable Planning, Inclusive Communities”, IHF 2017 aims to promote the United Nations’ New Urban Agenda, a 20-year roadmap that serves as a blueprint on how cities should be planned and managed.
This new global standard for sustainable urban development was adopted by nearly 170 nations, including Singapore, at the 2016 United Nations (UN) Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development (Habitat III)1 held in Quito, Ecuador.
IHF 2017 will be jointly organised by Singapore’s Housing & Development Board (HDB) along with two global and two local groups, namely the International Federation for Housing and Planning (IFHP), Eastern Regional Organisation for Planning & Human Settlements (EAROPH), Singapore Institute of Planners (SIP) and Centre for Liveable Cities (CLC).
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“This is the first time that these five agencies have collaborated to create an international platform to discuss how best we can build sustainable cities and homes,” said HDB’s Chief Executive Dr Cheong Koon Hean.
“This subject has become more and more critical, as we face an increasingly urbanised world. We need to re-envision the way cities and towns are planned, designed, developed and governed, so that we can improve the lives of our people.”
In particular, the Housing Board’s CEO will deliver the event’s opening keynote and share Singapore’s public housing experience. She will also talk about the global challenges involved in building adequate and affordable homes.
During IHF 2017, the government will also showcase Punggol, the first eco-friendly waterfront town in Singapore so that guests can learn about sustainable planning and design concepts in HDB towns.
This article was edited by Denise Djong.
