On 17 January 2025, Meinhardt (Singapore) Pte Ltd and Japan Overseas Infrastructure Investment Corporation for Transport and Urban Development (JOIN) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to jointly explore and deliver digital and smart city projects in third countries, with a special focus on ASEAN nations.
The MOU was formalised at the Meinhardt Group headquarters in Singapore by Mr Tatsuhiko Takesada, President and CEO of JOIN, and Mr Omar Shahzad, Group CEO of Meinhardt, in the presence of representatives from the Singapore Cooperation Enterprise (SCE), the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism of Japan (MLIT), the Embassy of Japan in Singapore, and the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA).
This MOU underscores a shared commitment to promoting innovation and sustainable urban development by leveraging the complementary expertise and synergies of both organisations and their respective ecosystems.
JOIN can garner its extensive network and expertise in supporting Japanese infrastructure exports whilst Meinhardt can bring its global leadership in integrated planning, design and project management solutions.
The two parties aim to advance innovative and sustainable urban solutions, especially in the growing sector of digital and smart cities. By exchanging knowledge and resources, the collaboration aims to catalyse transformative projects that prioritise citizen-centric solutions, digitalisation, and sustainability.
The collaboration is set against the backdrop of the Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) signed between MLIT and SCE in November 2024, which fosters the development of digital and smart cities in ASEAN and other regions. Building on this framework, the MOU will provide a platform for JOIN and Meinhardt to share information, identify synergies, and collaborate on projects from the early stages to drive meaningful impact across borders.
Mr Tatsuhiko Takesada, President and CEO of JOIN, said, “We are pleased to sign this MOU with Meinhardt today. We look forward to further strengthening our partnership with Meinhardt and working together to encourage both Japanese and Singaporean companies to participate in digital and smart city projects from the upstream stage.”
Mr Omar Shahzad, Group CEO of Meinhardt, commented, “This partnership marks a significant milestone in deepening our engagement with like-minded Japanese partners, especially in international markets where Meinhardt Group has a strong presence. We see our collaboration with JOIN as an important opportunity to harness our collective capabilities, creating innovative and practical solutions that address urban challenges while ensuring long-term sustainability and commercial viability. Together, we can better shape the foundations of people-centric cities, and smarter and more connected communities across ASEAN and beyond.”
Meinhardt and JOIN share a common mission of delivering excellence in urban development and infrastructure projects. With Meinhardt’s legacy of engineering innovation and JOIN’s mandate to support Japanese businesses through policy-based investments, the partnership is well-positioned to lead the way in digital and smart city transformations. It will also contribute to the strengthening of bilateral ties between Japan and Singapore, showcasing the power of public-private collaborations to drive innovation and economic growth.
