Traslated by Andrés Martínez Forero
Bogotá is exploring new international partnerships in the areas of water, mobility, and security. The mayor of the Colombian capital, Carlos Fernando Galán, welcomed Singapore’s non-resident ambassador, Anthony Lim Weng Kin, during his first official visit to Colombia. The meeting served as an opportunity to strengthen ties and explore joint strategies in sustainability, mobility, water management, and security, as part of the city’s goal to become more globally connected.
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During the meeting with the ambassador of Singapore—a global benchmark in innovation, sustainability, and urban efficiency—Mayor Galán shared progress on the construction of the Canoas Wastewater Treatment Plant (PTAR Canoas), which will treat 70 % of the city’s wastewater.
The mayor expressed his interest in learning more about Singapore’s experience in reusing treated water and other initiatives led by Singapore's National Water Agency (PUB).
“We want to strengthen these cooperative relationships to learn from the best practices in water resilience. Thanks to these new alliances, Bogotá will be able to adapt and implement innovative solutions that respond to our specific context and benefit the entire city,” said Mayor Carlos Fernando Galán.
The meeting also highlighted advances in the design of Bogotá’s new circular model for solid waste management, and discussions included potential collaboration to phase out landfill disposal and boost the circular economy.
The parties also explored opportunities for cooperation to support Bogotá’s greening and reforestation efforts, aiming to restore key ecosystems and strengthen the protection and consolidation of areas vital to the city’s environmental sustainability.
The conversation then turned to potential technical collaboration on strategies for transportation demand management, including congestion pricing—a method Singapore pioneered through its Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) system.
Regarding security, Mayor Galán emphasized the importance of strengthening bilateral cooperation to address urban challenges using technology. Bogotá is currently modernizing its C4 command center and constructing two new C2 centers, which will feature multi-sensor camera systems and automatic license plate readers (ALPR).
As part of the shared interest in advancing these strategic areas, immediate actions for technical cooperation were explored, including visits by Bogotá’s public officials to Singapore to gain firsthand experience with technologies, processes, and management models that could be adapted to Bogotá’s needs. These visits aim to facilitate deeper learning and effective knowledge transfer for the benefit of the city and its residents.
Ambassador Anthony Lim Weng Kin reaffirmed his country’s commitment to strengthening these ties.
“Bogotá can count on Singapore as a partner in sustaining this collaboration. The exchange of knowledge and urban strategies is a direct way to create real, positive impacts in people’s lives,” he stated.
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This meeting is another step toward building a more international Bogotá—creating alliances and sharing opportunities that help improve the quality of life for everyone in the city.
The meeting between Bogotá Mayor Carlos Fernando Galán and Singapore’s non-resident ambassador Anthony Lim Weng Kin was also highlighted on the X (formerly Twitter) account of Bogotá’s International Relations Office:
🇨🇴I🇸🇬 El alcalde @CarlosFGalan recibió al embajador de Singapur, Anthony Lim Weng Kin, en su primera visita oficial a Colombia. Exploramos nuevas alianzas en agua, movilidad sostenible, gestión de residuos, seguridad y reforestación urbana.#AquíSiPasa#BogotáInternaciona
— Relaciones Internacionales Bogotá (@BogotaInter_nal) April 8, 2025
1/3🧵 pic.twitter.com/KhJVn5P9b9
*This article was created using information provided by the Bogotá’s International Relations Office and curated by a journalist from Portal Bogotá. For suggestions, questions, or more information, visit Bogotá Te Escucha: https://bogota.gov.co/sdqs/
