The complete issue (pdf format/28 pages) - ST Electronics

featureThe Marmaray MRT ProjectThe Turkish government embarkedon the Turkey Marmaray projectto provide a link betweenIstanbul’s European and Asiansides via a tunnel under theBosphorus Straits. An integralpart of this project is the upgradingof an existing commuter railof approximately 76 km (CR 1project). The consortium comprisesMarubeni who is a keymember, Alstom and Dogus(a Turkish Civil Constructor).The consortium competedagainst internationally-renownedcompanies such as Bombardier,Mr Seah and his team with Mr Naohiro Yoshida (centre)of Marubeni in TokyoSiemens and Mitsubishi. Theeventual winner reaped therewards, which was a contractvalued at €815 million.ST Electronics’ InvolvementST Electronics, who won thecontract to design, supply, installand commission the telecommunications,SCADA and automaticfare collection systems for this railline, is currently working on thedesign phase of the project.How It All StartedST Electronics’ success in theproject was a result of more thantwo years of toil. The seeds werefirst planted in October 2004.The company was then invitedby Marubeni Corporation to betheir technology provider forthis project. The invitation byMarubeni could be attributed tothe close working relationshipand trust built up while workingtogether on the Manila LRTProject around year 2000. Thatproject was delivered successfullyand on a timely basis in 2003.In fact, while preparing its bidfor the Turkey Marmarayproject, both parties sealeda contract for the TaiwanTaoyuan InternationalAirport project in July 2006.The Philippine and Taiwanprojects and most recentlythe Turkey Marmarayproject are testimonies forthe synergistic relationshipbetween Marubeni andST Electronics.As a ‘suitor’, ST Electronics foundMarubeni Corporation to be achallenging ‘partner in marriage’.In spite of about seven years ofcourtship, it was only with thesigning of the Turkey Marmarayproject that the latter agreedto a closer and more long termrelationship. Towards this end astrategic partnership agreementwas mutually agreed upon whenMr Seah Moon Ming, President ofST Electronics, visited MarubeniCorporation HQ in Tokyo on 9May 2007.ST Electronics’ President Mr Seah MoonMing with Mr Takafumi Sakishima ofMarubeni CorporationInto the FutureThe future course has beencharted. Both companies havejointly identified prospects thatare of significant magnitude forfuture cooperation. Turkey ispoised to become a member of theEuropean Union, and the TurkeyMarmaray project will provideST Electronics the opportunity toeffectively pursue rail electronicssystem projects in Europe.For more information, please contactS. Ravindran at (65) 6413 3113 oremail: ravin@stee.stengg.comThe Marmaray rail lineArtist’s impressions of the train station lobby and platformvolume 20 no. 2 15