Singapore, June 29, 2010 – Singapore’s Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew presented the prestigious Lee Kuan Yew Water and World City Prizes to the 2010 laureates this evening.   At the event, Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew also held a dialogue session with some 700 global leaders and policy makers, business leaders, industry experts and academia, who are in Singapore for the Singapore International Water Week and World Cities Summit.

For its outstanding accomplishments in integrated river basin management along China’s second longest river, the Yellow River Conservancy Commission (YRCC) was awarded the  Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize, and is Asia’s first recipient of the prize since it was launched in 2008.  YRCC’s innovative policies and solutions have brought about widespread and sustainable social, economic and environment benefits to over 100 million people.  In just 10 years, the remarkable transformation of Yellow River by YRCC has restored extensive areas of wetlands and biodiversity, and protected some 90 million people from devastating floods.

The inaugural Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize was awarded to Bilbao City Hall in recognition of its integrated and holistic approach in urban transformation.  From a post-industrial city, Bilbao was transformed into a vibrant metropolis through a chronological and systematic order of development over 25 years.  The establishment of Bilbao Ria 2000 is also testimony to the city’s visionary leadership, commitment to long-term planning, strong processes and supporting infrastructure.  Bilbao is an exemplary city that continually re-invents and evolves itself amidst dynamic changes, which will serve as an inspiration to cities worldwide.  The Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize is fully sponsored by Keppel Corporation.

Please find attached images from the award ceremony and banquet.