Marina Bay Resort work kicks off in Singapore

Singapore, Feb 8 (UNI) In a move to boost tourism trade by 2015, Singapore today formally started construction work on a five billion dollar Integrated Resort (IR), a casino-based leisure hub in the central business district.

Speaking at the Marina Bay IR, National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan said the Las Vegas Sands Corp's Marina Bay Sands will lift Singapore's profile as a leading Meetings, International Convention and Exhibition (MICE) destination.

''The Marina Bay Sands IR will contribute to Singapore's economy in many ways. By 2015, the Marina Bay Sands IR is expected to stimulate an additional 2.7 billion dollars to Singapore's annual Gross Domestic Product,'' said Mr Mah.

Conference delegates and business travelers can look forward to a world-class MICE facility and at the same time, enjoy the attractions that the IR offers, he said, pointing out that it took Singapore about 18 months since the government decided to proceed with the two IR projects in April 2005.

The resort is expected to create another 30,000 jobs by 2015, and would directly hire 10,400 people for jobs ranging from key management positions to hotel guest service staff and convention centre executives.

''Moshe Safdie's design for Marina Bay Sands fits in well with existing and future developments of the Marina Bay,'' he added.

In the past years, private investments worth nine billion Singapore dollars have been put in for the Marina Bay area, including commercial properties. Over the next few years, Marina Bay looks set to progressively transform into the vibrant heart of Singapore, he opined.

''We are pleased to have Marina Bay Sands as a long-term partner to bring the Marina Bay vision to life.'' The second casino-based IR is to be built on the Santosa Island, off Singapore's southern port area.

UNI