Special Economic Zones in the OIC Region:
Learning from Experience
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Component Description
such as the Nanyang Environment & Water Research Institute (NEWRI),
the Energy Research Institute @ NTU (ERI@N), and private research
companies like DHI Water & Environment (S) Pte Ltd that specialises in
water and environmental research and consultancy.84
One North
R&D park designed for the sciences (medical, IT, engineering) focusing
on an involvement of the knowledge economy.
Institute of
Chemical and
Engineering
Sciences (ICES)
An autonomous national research institute under A*STAR (Agency for
Science, Technology and Research). It was created to undertake
exploratory research, process development and optimisation, and run
pilot-scale projects to support the top energy and chemical companies
located nearby. 85
Source: BuroHappold Analysis 2017
5.3.3 Legislative and Regulatory Framework
Special Economic Zone Act and Regulations
The Singapore Free Trade Zones Act was passed on 1st September 1969, of which Jurong Port
was the first FTZ. The FTZ Act was initially passed to support the development of Jurong
Industrial Zone.
The Act covers the five FTZs at Port of Singapore, Jurong Port, Sembawang Wharves, Pasir
Panjang Wharves and Airport Logistics Park of Singapore.
The FTZ Act specifies that:
 Goods of any description, except those specifically prohibited by law, may be bought
into a free trade zone, be removed from the free trade zone, destroyed or sent into
customs territory or into another free trade zone in the original packaging or otherwise
and, unless otherwise distributed, sorted, graded, cleaned, mixed or otherwise
manipulated, or manufactured. However, when the goods are exported from a free trade
zone into customs territory, standard customs procedures apply; and
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