NORTH ACEH – The North Aceh Regency Government is preparing follow-up measures based on the results of the Urban Planning and Sustainability training held in Singapore. One of the plans under discussion is to implement the concept of sustainable urban planning in the permanent housing area (Huntap) in Sawang District.
The training, held from August 3–7, 2026, served as an opportunity for participants from Aceh to learn about urban governance, public services, and sustainable development planning implemented by the Singapore Government.
Assistant for Government Affairs, Aceh Privileges, and People’s Welfare (Assistant I) of the North Aceh Regency Secretariat, Dr. Fauzan, S.STP., MPA, representing the Regent of North Aceh, H. Ismail A. Jalil, S.E., M.M., said that the experience gained in Singapore provided valuable perspectives on long-term development planning.
“What we learned in Singapore provided many perspectives on the importance of integrated, consistent, and long-term-oriented planning. Of course, these experiences need to be adapted to the characteristics and needs of North Aceh,” Fauzan said in a statement on Sunday (August 9, 2026).
According to Fauzan, the Singapore Government has demonstrated how limited land availability and various geographical challenges can be addressed through careful and consistent planning.
Singapore, he said, has developed urban governance supported by various public facilities, ranging from education, housing, and infrastructure to public services.
“One of the most important lessons is how long-term planning is actually implemented consistently. Every development project is prepared by considering the needs of society today as well as the challenges that may be faced in the future,” he explained.
One of the principles studied during the training is in line with the thinking of Singapore’s former Prime Minister, Lee Kuan Yew:
“If there was one formula for our success, it was that we were constantly studying how to make things work, or how to make them work better.”
Fauzan said the principle demonstrates the importance of fostering a culture of continuous learning and evaluation to improve the quality of governance and development.
As part of the training program, participants from Aceh also held discussions with Head of the Aceh Human Resources Development Agency (BPSDM), Marthunis, Expert Advisor to the Aceh Regional Development Planning Agency (Bappeda), Ir. T.A. Dadek, as well as participants from various regencies and cities across Aceh.
The discussions focused on the possibility of adapting the knowledge gained from Singapore to the Aceh development context, particularly in relation to spatial planning and sustainable area development.
One of the locations receiving attention is the permanent housing area in Sawang District, North Aceh Regency.
“We hope that the permanent housing area in Sawang District can become one of the locations developed through an integrated area-planning approach. Spatial planning, infrastructure, basic services, environmental aspects, and community needs need to be planned together,” Fauzan said.
According to him, the Sawang permanent housing area is a disaster-affected area that requires integrated planning and development.
Therefore, the sustainable planning concept for the area is expected to be integrated with various programs of the North Aceh Regency Government, the Aceh Government, and the Central Government.
Fauzan also expressed his appreciation and gratitude to Dr. Markus Karner, Executive Director of the Management Development Institute of Singapore University (MSU), for the opportunity and facilitation that enabled North Aceh Regency to participate in the training.
He emphasized that the results of the training should not stop at knowledge acquisition but should be translated into ideas and programs that can provide tangible benefits to the community.
“This follow-up is part of our effort to utilize the knowledge-sharing experience gained during the training in Singapore to strengthen the quality of development planning in North Aceh Regency,” he said.
The North Aceh Regency Government also called for support from all Regional Government Organizations (OPDs) to follow up on the results of the training.
Cross-sector collaboration is considered important to ensure that the planning concepts learned can be adapted to North Aceh’s conditions and translated into policies, programs, and development activities.
“We hope that this learning experience will provide tangible benefits. We want development in North Aceh to become more organized, integrated, and sustainable, ultimately improving the quality of life of the community,” Fauzan concluded.