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WELCOME TO SINGAPORE
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Consulting engineers play a unique and increasingly important role in a global economy, where society seeks
the highest quality at the local level. The International Federation of Consulting Engineers
(FIDIC) 2007 Singapore conference explores the essentials of successful
relationships with colleagues, clients and other professionals to deliver quality services globally.
Singapore lies at the heart of a fast-growing
region with many infrastructure
developments in progress and in the
pipeline. Participants at Singapore’s
FIDIC 2007 Conference that is organized
jointly by FIDIC and ACES, the
Association of Consulting Engineers
Singapore, will be able to witness at
first-hand the success factors for the
region’s rapid development.
The conference takes place within the city of Singapore, in the state-of-the-art Suntec
Singapore conference complex situated next to the central business district.
The aim of the conference is to identify strategies for overcoming barriers
to cooperation and for enhancing partnerships, both within the industry and with other sectors responsible
for supplying today’s vital infrastructure.
Jorge Díaz Padilla, FIDIC President
Chan Kok Siong, ACES President |
INFORMATION
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Registration
Online registration, with payment by credit card is available from 15
April 2007 until the start of the conference at the conference
website, www.fidic2007.org.
Registration at the reduced "early bird" rates end on 15
July 2007. For offline
registration, registration forms must be received by 5 September 2007.
All payments must be settled by the start of the conference or
access may be denied. Registration in the FIDIC 2007 Conference secretariat: 14.00 - 18.00 on Sunday
9 September; 09.00 - 18.00 on Monday 10 September and Tuesday 11 September; 08.00 - 12.00 on Wednesday,
12 September. Please note that bookings and payment for most optional
events and tours, and for extra tickets to conference events, must be settled by 15 August
2007. The cut-off date for hotel reservations, subject
to availability, made at the conference rates is 7 August 2007.
Conference badges
should be worn at all times during conference events and the business
programme.
Online registration: if a discount is applied for the only method that will
be available for payment is “later by credit card”. When FIDIC receives the registration form
it will establish that the discount can be applied and then send an invoice for payment.
Payment by bank transfer may be accepted, upon request, in special cases.
Offline registration: please send the completed registration form to FIDIC.
FIDIC will establish that the discount can be applied and then send an invoice for payment.
Payment by bank transfer may be accepted, upon request, in special cases.
Young Professionals Discount: participants aged 35 years or less who work for a member firm of
a FIDIC Member Association can register for the full
conference with a 33% discount. Proof of age must be sent to FIDIC
with the offline registration form or separately for online registration.
Less Developed Country Discount: the organizers allow a discount in the annual
full conference fee to be paid by participants from FIDIC Member Association member firms based
in Less Developed Countries (LDCs).
The discount ranges from 10% to a maximum of 50%, and applies to more than
20 Member Associations. The number of participants that qualify
from a given country is equal to the number of FIDIC General
Assembly Meeting delegates for the country’s FIDIC Member Association.
To obtain the FIDIC LDC discount, the participant’s national Member Association
will need to notify FIDIC that the participant qualifies for the LDC discount.
The participant must arrange this directly with the association.
The actual discount applied will be calculated during registration.
Confirmation
Registration will only be valid if all fees are paid in advance. The conference organizers will forward acknowledgement of the receipt and confirmation of conference registrations by fax or e-mail. Requests for event bookings will be handled on a first come-first served basis. While every effort will be made to keep to the published programme, the organizers reserve the right to change times and venues. Tours and events are based on a minimum of participants and may be either merged with an equivalent tour or cancelled. Late registration of participants, accompanying persons and exhibitors is possible after the 5 September 2007, via FIDIC, and at the conference venue on Sunday
- Thursday, 9- 13 September 2007. The prices will be the same as those indicated for the period after the 5 July 2007, plus a 10% service charge. Optional events, including three- and four-day post-conference tours, and extra tickets can only be purchased with a registration for the full conference or with a one-day registration. Payment for the optional events and extra tickets must be completed by 9 August 2009. The availability of places for the social programme, accompanying person’s programme and post-conference tours is not guaranteed.
Cancellations and registration changes
Partial or full cancellations received in writing before 9 August 2007 by mail or fax will be refunded less an administration fee (pro rata, based on USD 150 for a full conference registration) if payment is also received by this date. Payments and cancellations received between 15 July 2007 and 15 August 2007 will be entitled to a 50% refund. No refunds are available for payments received after 15 August 2007. Refunds will be processed after the conference.
Singapore
Singapore is a city and a
country in south-eastern Asia, strategically located off the southern tip of the Malay
Peninsula between the South China Sea and the Indian Ocean, and 58
nearby islands. With a population of 4.6 million, the city-state become one of the commercial powerhouses of Asia. It is the gateway to a region
with over three billion people, where east meets west in a multicultural
and modern city full of old-world charm. Singapore consists only of one main island and 63
other small, mostly uninhabited, islands. It is among
the 20 smallest countries in the world, with a total land area of only
683 sq. km. Apart from
Monaco, Singapore is the most densely populated country in the world,
with 6,430 people per sq. km. It is mainly flat, with low hills, the highest being Bukit Timah
(163m). In the
northeast of the main island, large areas have been reclaimed, and much of
the original jungle and swamp covering the low-lying areas has been
cleared.
Climate and clothing
If you come from a temperate climate, the first thing that hits you in
Singapore is the heat. Temperature ranges from 24 degrees Centigrade to
32 Centigrade (75-89 degrees Farenheit) with an average daily maximum relative humidity of 84.3%.
Rain falls all year round, and is most abundant from November to January.
Rain occurs mostly as sudden showers so it is good idea to carry an umbrella whenever you go out.
Conference participants are urged to wear light, comfortable, cotton clothing to"
beat the heat".
Formal dress is not
required for the conference business programme. For the excursions and tours,
casual wear is advised, and for the Gala Dinner, evening dress is
preferable.
Language
Singapore’s official languages are English, Mandarin, Malay and Tamil.
Internet facilities and message board
Internet facilities will be available in the Gallery of Suntec
Singapore at 09.00 - 17.00 on 10 - 12 September 2007. A message board
is available near the registration desks. Participants should check
the board regularly to receive and post messages.
Currency exchange
The monetary unit in Singapore is the Singapore dollar (approximate
exchange rates are: USD 1 = SGD 1.52; EUR 1 = SGD2.01). Foreign currency and travellers’ cheques can be exchanged at the Changi International Airport, hotels, shops and licensed money
changers, wherever the sign "Licensed Money Changer" is displayed. Most shopping complexes have a licensed money
changer and conference participants are discouraged from changing money with unlicensed money changers.
Credit and charge cards
Major credit cards such as American Express, Diners, MasterCard and Visa are widely accepted in
Singapore, but participants
should ask before ordering services.
- American Express: tel: +65 68 80 11 11
- MasterCard: tel: +800 110 01 13 (toll-free in Singapore only)
- Diners: tel: +65 64 16 08 00
- Visa: tel: +800 448 12 50 (toll-free in Singapore only)
Banking
The local currency is Singapore dollars and cents. Notes come in denominations
form SDG 2 to SDG 10,000; coins come in five denominations of
SDG 0.05 to SDG 1.00. Banking hours are: Mondays to Fridays: 10.00 - 15.00;
Saturdays: 09.30 - 13.00 (some banks are open until 15.00); Sundays:
09.30 - 15.00 (some banks in Orchard Road). Most banks handle travellers'
cheques and change foreign currency. However, some banks do not have foreign exchange dealings on Saturdays.
Banks with foreign exchange dealings on Saturday: DBS: 08.30 - 11.30; Standard Chartered:
09.00 - 11.30; HSBC: 09.30- 12.00. Passports are required when cashing in travellers’ cheques. A nominal commission may be charged.
Tax-free shopping
In Singapore, there are many opportunities to benefit from tax-free shopping, with more than 3,000 retail outlets offering the service. Global Refund affiliated stores displaying the Tax-Free Shopping
logo have helpful staff to guide visitors.
There is a 7% Goods and Services Tax (GST), and the GST paid on purchases is refundable if
participants leave Singapore by air. Participants only need to spend a minimum of
SGD 100 at Global Refund affiliated retailers to qualify for a refund.
Goods must be taken out of Singapore within two months from the date of purchase.
A handling fee will be deducted from the GST amount for refund services.
To obtain a refund, participants can cash a Global Refund cheque at Changi
International Airport or at the downtown cash refund counters. Global Refund offers you several possibilities of receiving your GST refund:
- Changi Airport: cash; airport shopping voucher; direct credit to
a credit card or bank account; bank cheque.
- Downtown cash refund counters (Funan DigitaLife Mall; Wisma Atria; Centrepoint;
Sim Lim Square): Proceed to the counter with a completed Global Refund Cheque,
purchase receipt, passport and a credit or charge card with six-months validity
(note: for downtown cash refunds, refunds are in Singapore currency and are limited to
SGD5 00 per person).
Before leaving Singapore, participants should show their purchases, receipts, and passport to the custom officials at Changi International Airport and have
the Global Refund Cheques stamped. The endorsed cheques must then be
presented to the staff at the Global Refund counter which is next to the customs.
For more information, please visit www.globalrefund.com.
Travel hints
On arrival by air at Singapore's Changi International Airport, participants are
encouraged to take a metered taxi
from the airport's forecourt. A limousine service can also be ordered in the arrivals hall, but the service
is relatively expensive.
Public transport
There are three modes of public transport: taxis, buses and trains (Mass Rapid Transit
- MRT). The nearest MRT station to Suntec City, the conference venue, is
the City Hall MRT Station. You can then take a 10 minutes’ walk via the underground City Link Mall. Alternatively, you can hop on board
a Suntec City courtesy shuttle bus (the pick-up point is outside the City Hall Station entrance at St Andrew’s Cathedral, opposite Capitol
Building). Bus services to Suntec include lines number 36, 97, 106, 111, 133, 501, 502, 518, 857, and 700 which stops in front of the
conference centre.
Bus fares
Non-airconditioned: SGD 0.80 - 1.50; airconditioned: SGD 0.90 - 1.90. Consult the TransitLink website (www.transitlink.com.sg) for the fare structure. Alternatively, call the TransitLink hotline at
+1 800 767 4333 (toll-free in Singapore only, operating hours are from Monday to Friday,
08.00 - 18.00 hrs and Saturday, 08.00 - 13.00 hrs) for assistance.
MRT fares
Travelling on the MRT is economical, with rides ranging from SGD 0.90 to a maximum of
SGD 1.70. Instead of using cash, travellers may choose to pay for MRT and bus fares with a stored value ez-link card. The card may be bought or revalued at any TransitLink
ticket sales office located in most MRT stations and bus interchanges. Each adult card is sold with a minimum value of
SGD 10 plus a deposit fee of SGD 5. For more information, call the TransitLink Hotline:
+1 8002255 663 (toll free in Singapore only).
Taxi fares
Basic fare: flag-down (includes 1 km.): normal: SGD 2.50; limousine:
SGD 2.80. Meter charge: SGD 01.10 for 210 m to 10 km; 175 m above 10
km; 25 s or less. There are surcharges for peak hours, late night
(23.30 - 06.00) and the Central Business District. Taxi companies :
CityCab (tel: +65 52 22 22); Comfort Taxi (+65 52 11 11; Comfort
Limousine: +65 52 28 28; SMRT Taxi: +65 55 88 88.
Water, smoking and tipping
It is perfectly safe to drink water straight from the tap in Singapore.
Smoking is prohibited in public buses, taxis, lifts, theatres, cinemas, government offices, air-conditioned restaurants and shopping centres.
Tipping is not practised in Singapore as most hotels and restaurants already levy a 10% service charge on customers’ bills. Tipping is not a way of life in Singapore and is prohibited at the airport.
Payphone services
Public payphones operated by credit card and/or stored-value phone cards can be used to make both local and international calls. Public payphones can be found in most shopping complexes and MRT stations. Local calls are charged at 10 cents per three minutes. Stored-value phone cards in denominations of
SGD 2, SGD 5, SGD 10, SGD 20 and SGD 50 can be purchased from post offices and phone card agents. To make an international call, dial the access code followed by the country code, area code
and telephone number. Different telephone companies use different access codes:
001 for SingTel; 002 for M1; 008 for Starhub. International Calling Cards in denominations of
SGD 10, SGD 20 and SGD 50 are also available at all post offices including Singapore Changi Airport, 7-Eleven stores and other retail outlets.
Useful telephone numbers
Police: 999 (toll-free)
Emergencies, ambulance, fire brigade: 995 (toll-free)
STB Touristline (24-hr automated tourist information system): +1 800 736
2000 (toll-free in Singapore only)
CitySearch (operator-assisted Yellow Pages): +1 900 777 7777.
The hotline is available from 07.00 - 23.00 daily, including Sundays and public holidays.
Each calls are charged at SGD 0.60 for up to three requests.
Time of day: 1711 (SGD 0.10 charge per call)
Weather: +65 65 42 77 88.
Disclaimer
While every attempt is made to ensure that all announced aspects of
the conference will be maintained, the organizers reserve the right
to make changes should the need arise. The organizers are not
responsible for any personal expenses incurred or any loss suffered
by any conference participants or their guests in connection with the
event. All statements, opinions (whether of a technical nature or
not), evidence, conclusions, exhibits, demonstrations, expressions,
issues debated, which are said, made or expressed either orally or in
writing and in any form or manner whatsoever including papers, paper
prints, discussion material, articles, materials, notes,
presentational slides, discussions or speeches are solely the view and
opinion of the individuals concerned an not those to the conference
organizers. The conference organizers are not responsible whatsoever
for the accuracy, correctness or representations of any statements or
documents presented or discussed at the conference.
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Registrations,
information
FIDIC
Box 311, 1215 Geneva 15, Switzerland
Tel: +41 22 799 49 00;
Fax: +41 22 799 49 01
fidic@fidic.org; www.fidic.org
Local organization, hotels, visas, tours, events
CMA International Consultants
1 Liang Seah St, 02-12 Liang Seah Place, Singapore 189022
Tel: +65 63 36 23 28;
Fax: +65 63 36 25 83
fidic07@cma.sg; www.cma.sg
Host organization
ACES-Singapore
04-06, Palmer House, 70 Palmer Rd, Singapore
Tel: +65 63 24 26 82
Fax: +65 63 24 25 81
acesing@starhub.net.sg;
www.aces.org.sg
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Passport and visas
For entry information, see app.ica.gov.sg.
For downloading visa application forms, see www.mfa.gov.sg.
For Singapore missions worldwide, see gov.sg. All visitors to Singapore are required to go through immigration clearance on arrival.
They must satisfy the following basic entry requirements before they are allowed to enter:
a passport with at least six- months validity; valid Singapore visa, if applicable;
sufficient funds to last for the intended period of stay in Singapore;
confirmed onward/return tickets (where applicable); and entry facilities to their onward destinations, e.g. visas.
Visitors from some 20 countries will require a visa to enter Singapore). Please check the
visa and passport regulations that apply to your country of
residence
before making your travel arrangements. The applicant and
ACES-Singapore, the local contact, may be required to furnish
additional documents and information when a participant applies for a
visa. To facilitate applications,
those participants needing an official invitation letter sent by CMA
on behalf of the host
organization ACES-Singapore in order to apply for a visa should send a
completed Visa
Invitation Form, one for each participant and accompanying person/s, to
CMA which will send an invitation letter.
Venue
The conference takes place in Suntec Singapore, International Convention
and Exhibition Centre, 1 Raffles Boulevard, Suntec City,
Singapore 039593 (tel: +65 63 37 28 82; fax: +65 68 25 22 22; www.suntecsingapore.com.
Suntec Singapore lies at the centre of a self-contained, fully integrated
events infrastructure - a true city within a city. There are several conference hotels of
all categories within easy walking distance. Nearby are new building
complexes, including the Esplanade, and the historic Supreme Court, which blend in with
majestic buildings as testaments to Singapore's colourful culture and rich history.
The Monday 10 September Opening Ceremony is in Ballroom 2, Level 2,
and the Tuesday 11 September 2007 workshop sessions in meeting rooms
on Level 3.
Hotels
Suntec Singapore is in easy walking distance of the five
conference hotels (Conrad Centennial; Swissôtel The Stamford; Carlton;
Peninsula Excelsior; Hotel Royal at Queens). For events included in the
conference programme (Welcome Reception; Gala Dinner), buses will
follow Route 1 (leave from the Peninsular and pass by Swissôtel 15 minutes
later) or Route 2 (leave from the Royal and pass by the Carlton and Conrad
15 and 30 minutes later, respectively).
Buses for optional events and tours will leave from Suntec.
Hotel bookings
Hotel accommodation (see "Hotels")
at attractive rates, but not necessarily the
lowest available, is available for registered participants at the five
conference hotels. The organizers guarantee the conference rates up to
7 August 2007, subject to availability, after which rates may vary. Bookings and the payment of a one-night’s
deposit are made with CMA which is handling hotel bookings in the
conference hotels. The one-night deposit guarantee is refunded for
cancellations made before 7 August 2007; changes to a reservation
made after 7 August 2007 may mean that the deposit guarantee is
charged. Hotel Booking Form
Electricity supplies
In Singapore, electricity is supplied at 220-240V, 50Hz.
The two-pin connecting plug is different from that used in some
countries, e.g., USA, Japan, etc. Three-pin plugs have UK-style
(Type G) square pins.
Special meals
Conference lunches and coffee break items will contain no pork or
lard; vegetarian food will also be served. For dietary requirements
for the optional tours and events that include meals, please contact
the FIDIC 2007 Secretariat (in principle, vegetarian and Muslim
food is available at every meal).
Luggage handling
For the post-conference tours, luggage can either be left in the
hotel used during the conference or taken with the participant as
there is sufficient capacity in the tour buses.
Health
For entry into Singapore, a valid yellow fever vaccination certificate is required
for visitors over one year of age who, within the preceding six days have been in or have passed through any country
of some 20 countries which are endemic for yellow fever.
Further accommodation
Participants have to make their own arrangements to further
accommodation if they want to arrive before or stay longer than the official
programme.
The five conference hotels generally offer the conference
rate for a few days either side of the conference period.
Accompanying persons
Accompanying persons
will be able to enjoy Singapore's incredible range of attractions
that testify to the city's surprising co-existence of modern and
traditional ways of life. During
the optional city tour on Sunday, 9 September, participants will have an
opportunity to see Singapore's "Colonial Heart", the Thian Hock Keng Temple and Mount
Faber, the National Orchid Garden and Little India. It is followed by
the Welcome Reception at the Asian Civilisation Museum, Empress Place.
As an option for
accompanying persons, the organisers also offer a variety of half-day
morning and afternoon trips on Monday - Wednesday, 10 - 12
September. Conference participants and accompanying persons will be
able to take part in optional Monday, 10 September, Local Color Night
events: a Night Safari in tropical rainforests or a dinner cruise on
a magnificent replica of a Ming-dynasty junk. Tuesday evening
offers a Singapore by Night tour. The conference Gala Dinner is on
Wednesday, 113 September, in the Island Ballroom, Shangri-La Hotel,
Orange Grove Rd.
Insurance
The organizers are not responsible for mishaps. Participants should
make their own insurance arrangements by taking
out whichever insurance they consider necessary. They are
advised to arrange health and travel insurance
prior to arrival in Singapore. The registration fees do not include
provision for the insurance of participants against personal
accidents, sickness, theft or property damages. This applies to all
events during the conference.
Further information
Further information on touring Singapore is available at
www.visitsingapore.com, an official website of the Singapore Tourism Board.
Conference secretariat
Suntec Singapore, International Convention & Exhibition Centre, 1 Raffles Boulevard, Suntec City,
Singapore 039593 (tel.: (65) 6337 2888; fax: (65) 6825 2222). Visit the conference
website
www.fidic2007.org after 1 August 2007 for further details. |
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