PM Lawrence Wong at the Groundbreaking Ceremony for Marina Bay Sands Expansion Project (Jul 2025)

Dr Miriam Adelson, Co-founder of Las Vegas Sands
Mr Robert Goldstein, Chairman and CEO of Las Vegas Sands
Distinguished Guests
Ladies and Gentlemen

Introduction

I’m delighted to join all of you tonight at this groundbreaking ceremony for the Marina Bay Sands expansion project.

This takes on an extra meaning, because this groundbreaking ceremony is occurring just weeks before we celebrate Singapore’s 60th year of independence, a significant milestone in our nation’s journey.

When Singapore became independent 60 years ago, very few thought we could make it. We were a tiny island with no hinterland, no natural resources, no water, no army to defend ourselves. But with imagination, hard work, solidarity, and unity – and perhaps with a little bit of luck – we defied the odds.

So on this SG60 year, we come together not just to celebrate, but to give thanks, to reflect on how far we have come as a nation, and how much we have transformed.

History of Marina Bay

As you could see just now in the video, nowhere is this transformation more vividly seen than right here at Marina Bay.

In the 1970s this was just open sea.

But our founding leaders had a vision – a bold vision – to expand our city centre by reclaiming land from sea.

And that was a long-term endeavour. Every generation built upon the work of the previous one – investing in infrastructure, growing the business district, and eventually developing this waterfront.

Today, Marina Bay is a symbol of the Singapore Story.

It is a thriving business and financial hub.

It is a vibrant destination for meetings, conventions, tourism and entertainment.

And it is a key node that connects us to the global economy, and enables Singapore to plug into the global network, and in the process, create good jobs and opportunities for our people.

But Marina Bay is more than just an economic success story. It has become deeply embedded in our national consciousness.

The skyline is instantly recognisable around the world – whether in movies, documentaries, or music videos. When you see it, you know this is Singapore.

Marina Bay is a place where Singaporeans come together – to relax, to celebrate, to mark milestones. From Gardens by the Bay and Marina Barrage, to the National Day Parade and year-end Countdowns, this is where memories are made.

Marina Bay is a place that Singaporeans are proud to call home. For Singaporean men, every recruit that does Basic Military Training, their graduation parades are held here – reminding them of why they are defending Singapore, and what they are defending.

We are very proud of what Marina Bay has become. But we are not done yet. Because we believe the best still lies ahead.

Next Chapter for Marina Bay

Tonight’s groundbreaking is part of this new chapter for Marina Bay.

When completed, the expansion will refresh our skyline, as you can see. It will introduce new attractions, including a roof-top destination open to the public, and a 15,000-seat arena for world-class concerts and performances.

It will also include additional convention and exhibition space, further strengthening Singapore’s position as a leading MICE destination globally.

Along the Bay, we will have a new national landmark, which we call NS Square. It will be a tribute to our National Servicemen; a venue for future National Day Parades, and a space for major cultural and community events.

We will have more water-based activities all along the waterfront – like kayaking, pedal boating and dragon boating.

All these developments, we believe, will add additional buzz and vibrancy to the area, bring in more visitors, and open up new opportunities for Singaporeans in hospitality and tourism, as Marina Bay Sands has already done these last 20 years.

What we are doing and planning for Marina Bay, is in fact just part of a broader and more ambitious transformation – one that spans the entire Southern waterfront for Singapore. So we call this bigger project, this more ambitious project, the Greater Southern Waterfront.

It is an area stretching from Marina Bay East all the way to Pasir Panjang.

That is an area that is six times the size of Marina Bay.

And potentially, as we refresh, reimagine, rejuvenate the entire area, we can have more commercial, more recreational, new entertainment options, as well as new residential precincts, including public housing for Singaporeans.

That is what we mean when we say we are never done building Singapore.

We will always keep on improving, keep renewing, and keep on moving forward. You know in life, it is always easy to look back with the benefit of hindsight, and when something turns out well, we tell ourselves: “This was bound to happen. It was always going to succeed.” But the truth is, when you are in the moment, nothing ever feels certain. Every success is built on countless decisions; on risks, on a lot of doubt. Very little comes easy, and as you saw in the video clip, nothing ever comes by chance. So in Singapore, we learnt from the very beginning never take progress for granted. Progress is not predetermined, it is not predestined, it is not inevitable. It takes discipline, it takes effort, it takes belief, and it takes hard work.

Of course, it also takes strong partnerships.

That is why we appreciate, very much, the partnership we have with Las Vegas Sands.

When we decided to have the Integrated Resorts back in 2005, it was a bold move for Singapore – to reimagine our tourism landscape and to refresh our offerings.

It was also a bold commitment from Las Vegas Sands – a major investment, underpinned by confidence in Singapore, and in Singapore’s future.

We both had to take risks – it was not predetermined. This outcome that we enjoyed today 20 years later, could not have been foretold. But we, together, made it happen. And I am glad that this partnership has flourished, and I am even happier that we are now taking it to the next level.

Conclusion

So, to conclude, let me once again congratulate the team at Marina Bay Sands on this milestone, and thank all of you for your continued commitment to Singapore.

As we build on our achievements, and we look to the future beyond SG60, let us do everything we can to ensure that Marina Bay – and Singapore – continue to thrive and shine brightly on the world stage.

Thank you very much.

Explore related topics

• Infrastructure

• Economy