There are good opportunities for Singapore's environmental engineering firms in China, according to International Enterprise (IE) Singapore.

Cities in the dry northern parts of China need a steady water supply, while industrial areas in the south require wastewater and solid waste management.

One such company making headway here is Salcon, which is working on a desalination plant in the northern city of Tianjin. The dual membrane technology at Salcon's seawater desalination facility at the Senoko power plant is similar to the technology that will be used in the company's latest project in China ¡ª a 40,000 ton wastewater desalination plant in Tianjin. Salcon began its China operations in 1989.

It has since built 68 treatment plants in major cities and completed 25 industrial projects for clients including Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation. Salcon says it is moving towards high-end industrial projects in China because of competition from Chinese companies.

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