The Australian state of New South Wales (NSW) has despatched a minister to Singapore, China and Japan in an effort to attract investment for its huge infrastructure ambitions, and to get ideas.
NSW transport minister Andrew Constance left yesterday for a 10-day trade mission to Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Tokyo to showcase the state’s $55bn (AUS$73bn) infrastructure programme.
Constance will meet with leading Asian rail operators to investigate the latest rail technology, and tempt investors.
"NSW is the infrastructure capital of the world and there’s huge overseas interest to be part of our $73 billion program," he said in a statement.
"The infrastructure roundtables I will host will be an opportunity to showcase our ambitious infrastructure pipeline. We’re the leading economy in Australia and there’s huge interest from overseas to invest."
With Sydney expected to grow by a million people in the next ten years, we’re not only building capacity but need to continually improve the customer experience– Andrew Constance, NSW transport minister
NSW is currently gearing up to build Australia’s largest transport project, the 31-station Sydney Metro, on which it has budgeted to spend $9bn (AUS$12bn) over the next four years alone.
Construction is due to start next year and be complete in 2024.
On his list to meet in Asia are metro operators SBS Transit in Singapore, Hong Kong’s MTR, and Japan’s Tokyo Metro. He said he wants to learn from them.
"With Sydney expected to grow by a million people in the next ten years, we’re not only building capacity but need to continually improve the customer experience."
Airports will also feature in his mission. "I’ll also be inspecting the new Changi Airport site in Singapore," he said. "We are in an exciting time with plans for the Western Sydney Airport moving ahead. As Infrastructure Minister I want the new airport to be at the forefront of technology and design."
Constance will probe the latest track and signaling technology, ticketing, passenger management, high speed rail, transport and land use planning and infrastructure project financing.
Image: Artist’s render of a station on the Sydney Metro, Australia’s largest transport project (New South Wales government)
