Surbana signs MOU to develop Jiangnan Eco-Town, inks deal to partner Hangzhou developer

SURBANA International Consultants on Monday signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Hangzhou-based Enjoytown Investment Management and Zhejiang Nongfa Lanhai Industrial Ltd to develop Hangzhou Bay's Jiangnan Eco-Town located in Shaoxing.

The project spans over 4,700mu (313 hectares). The initial start-up area which Surbana will be involved in is part of a wider area that will potentially see the development of an eco farm land and a National Modern Agricultural Demonstration Park.

Surbana said it will provide a full suite of services including master planning, architectural design and project management services for this Eco-Town.

Separately, Surbana also inked a joint venture agreement with Enjoytown to form a strategic partnership, which is expected to create more business opportunities for Surbana in Zhejiang province.

This unites the expertise of both companies by providing a full suite of services to potential clients, the group said.

It also demonstrates Surbana's future direction in China as well as its expansion plans in Zhejiang, it added.

Surbana managing director for China James Tan said: "This is the first such JV agreement we have in China whereby we partner a local Chinese developer to provide project management and other related services.

"Enjoytown is a reputable developer which is playing an active role in Zhejiang's urbanisation plans. Through this partnership, both parties will actively solicit project management jobs in Zhejiang and potentially other provinces in China. We look forward to growing this partnership over time."

The signings were witnessed by Grace Fu, Second Minister for the Environment and Water Resources and Second Minister for Foreign Affairs, and Zhejiang's Party Secretary Xia Baolong on the sidelines of the Singapore-Zhejiang Economic and Trade Council meeting held on Monday.