With some valid questions being asked about the success rates of previously punted Chinese eco-towns, here is an announcement that offers perhaps a change.

Where Dongtan, Huangbaiyu, and other were products media and politics – and backed by service firms – this recent headline is of a new platform in Tianjin is different:

China’s National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) has recently approved the establishment of the startup area of the new Tianjin Eco-City, a project with 12 billion yuan’s investment sponsored by both Chinese and Singaporean companies.

It is the second phase of a project that I originally picked up on in October in the article Tianjin Eco-City Underway, and as time has gone on I have grown more encouraged becuase of one simple fact.

That when you partner the Singaporean government/ business with Local government/ business, there is a benchmark of past success, high level supervision is a near certainty, and projects are completed (not approved) as model projects that make money.