Resorts World awards $705m Universal Studios contract to Chinese firm

WORKS are underway at Singapore's highly-anticipated Universal Studios, which is expected to open its doors to visitors come 2010.

Resorts World at Sentosa (RWS) announced on Monday that a $705 million contract for infrastructural work for Universal Studios has been awarded to China Jingye Engineering.

The firm is a unit of one of China's biggest construction conglomerates, the China Metallurgical Corporate Group.

It will be responsible for general building works such as structural buildings, facades, walkways and an amphitheatre, said RWS.

The latest deal follows an earlier one in September last year, when China Jingye clinched a $60 million contract to supply 23,000 tonnes of structural steel to the $6 billion resort development.

An RWS spokesperson said that RWS held a tender exercise and 'chose the most suitable candidate based on suitability to deliver.'

RWS's executive vice president of projects Michael Chin said in a statement that China construction companies have a good track record, building a 'collection of stunning projects' rising in China the last few years.

The firm has the 'experience, a track record for quality and a reputation for completing projects on time,' said Mr Chin.

China Jingye, which has been established in Singapore for the last 12 years, was previously involved in building MRT stations and HDB projects in Singapore.

When it opens, Universal Studios Singapore will feature 24 rides and attractions, 18 of which are unique to Singapore.

RWS said they were 'on track for a soft opening in early 2010.'

It has awarded a total of $2.7 billion worth of building contracts to date.

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