By Kim Tae-gyu
JAKARTA ― Ssangyong Engineering Construction Chairman Kim Seok-joon is positive about winning the $1 billion project for constructing a new terminal for Singapore’s Changi Airport.
The project has attracted bids from several construction firms, with Ssangyong and Japan’s top three builders being the major contenders.
“We are the only Korean contractor invited to take part in the bidding. We came up with our plan a month ago and are currently waiting for the result,” Kim said at the Korea-Indonesia Business Investment Forum, which took place Friday on the occasion of President Park Geun-hye’s state visit to the Southeast Asian state.
“Currently, the key for a big project is technological competitiveness rather than low-priced offers. In that sense, I think we have an edge.”
Ssangyong showed its technological prowess by building its landmark Marina Bay Sands Hotel in 2010, which is composed of three buildings with a height of 200 meters.
The top of the hotel, which stands at an angle of 52 degrees, has a sky park equipped with three swimming pools, an observation deck, restaurants, a spa and gardens.
It has become one of the top tourist attractions in the city state with thousands of visitors queuing to visit the sky park despite the relatively high admission fees.
“If we will be able to clinch the deal for the terminal, it would mark our second major achievement in Singapore, following the Marina Bay Sands Hotel,” Kim said.
President Park also tried to help Ssangyong’s bid during her one-on-one talks with Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong last week on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)+3 meetings.
“In the summit, President Park asked Prime Minister Lee to support a Korean builder in the country’s infrastructure projects without specifying any company name,” Park’s senior economic secretary Cho Won-dong said.
“It was Prime Minister Lee himself, who dubbed Ssangyong’s title first. He said that he is well aware of the case.”
A Ssangyong spokesman said that the winner of the Changi Airport terminal is expected to be decided at the end of this month or early next month.
Ssangyong chief confident about Singapore mega deal
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