SINGAPORE, July 12, 2014 - President Tony Tan today opens a two-day festival sponsored by Sembcorp Industries that aims to bring a showcase of our nation's nature and biodiversity to the community and inspire greater involvement in conservation efforts.

Jointly organised by the National Parks Board (NParks) and the Biodiversity Roundtable, which comprises a group of 20 representatives from various sectors of the biodiversity community, the Festival of Biodiversity is an annual celebration which aims to promote a deeper understanding and appreciation of Singapore's rich natural heritage. It brings together government, local schools, nature groups, research bodies and corporations as partners in promoting the message of conservation and biodiversity stewardship.

This year, the two-day Festival features a host of family-friendly activities. These include children's art and craft workshops as well as an interactive exhibition on our island's biodiversity, with volunteers from NParks, Sembcorp and non-government organisations on hand to share their knowledge of Singapore's impressive natural heritage. Held at VivoCity, the event is expected to draw thousands.

Said Sembcorp Group President & CEO Mr Tang Kin Fei, "Sembcorp is very proud to help to bring the Festival of Biodiversity to the people of Singapore.

"As a company, we maintain a strong environmental commitment. Our businesses apply technology to produce energy in greener ways, provide clean, sustainable water and recover precious resources from waste. Supporting the Festival of Biodiversity is a natural extension of this respect for the environment, and our goal to contribute positively to local communities where we operate.

"Though this, as well as other initiatives such as the Sembcorp Forest of Giants, we hope to play a small part in the conservation of Singapore's rich natural heritage for future generations to enjoy."

Although it is highly urbanised, Singapore nonetheless has an impressive array of flora and fauna. Tropical rainforests, mangroves and coral ecosystems are some of the habitats found here. Singapore is also home to more than 400 species of marine fish and almost one third of the total number of species of hard corals found in the world.

Sembcorp's support for the promotion and conservation of these natural treasures is part of a sustained commitment.  In 2010, the company pledged S$1 million to establish the Sembcorp Forest of Giants, a living gallery of endangered giant tree species which once thrived in the region, and to fund green educational programmes.

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For media queries, please contact:

Gwendolyn Loh (Ms)
Manager
Group Corporate Relations
DID:     +65 6723 3159
Email:  gwendolyn.loh@sembcorp.com

 Ng Lay San (Ms)
Vice President
Group Corporate Relations
DID:     +65 6723 3150
Email:  ng.laysan@sembcorp.com

ABOUT SEMBCORP INDUSTRIES
Sembcorp Industries is a leading energy, water and marine group operating across six continents worldwide. With facilities of over 7,200 megawatts of gross power capacity and over eight million cubic metres of water per day in operation and under development, Sembcorp is a trusted provider of essential energy and water solutions to both industrial and municipal customers. It is also a world leader in marine and offshore engineering as well as an established brand name in urban development.

The Group has total assets of over S$14 billion and employs approximately 10,000 employees. Listed on the main board of the Singapore Exchange, it is a component stock of the Straits Times Index and several MSCI and FTSE indices.

Note to Editors: Please refer to the company as "Sembcorp" (with "S" in upper case and "c" in lower case), or "Sembcorp Industries" in full. Please also note that "Sembcorp" is not an abbreviation of "Sembawang Corporation" but a brand name in itself, and it is therefore incorrect to refer to our company as "Sembawang", "Sembawang Corporation" or similar.

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