Six projects, to be offered over the next three to five years, include a $650-million sports centre, a water recycling plant, an incineration facility and an academic wing at the National University of Singapore.

The plans are part of the Public Private Partnership (PPP) scheme that the government announced in August through which non-core public sector projects worth more than $50 million can be outsourced to private companies.

The projects typically require private companies to design, construct, finance, maintain and operate the facilities over a period of 15 to 30 years.

Confirming a report in the Straits Times newspaper, a finance ministry spokeswoman said the six projects come on top of a contract already awarded to listed company Hyflux to supply desalinated water to the Public Utilities Board.

The Hyflux contract is worth $250 million.

Acting second minister for finance Raymond Lim told a public forum on Wednesday that the government was looking to outsource the projects for the benefit of both the public and private sectors.

"Not only does PPP have the potential to improve services, it also enables the public sector to better focus on acquiring services at the most cost-effective basis, rather than directly owning and operating assets," Lim said.

"The government will be able to leverage on the expertise of the private sector in managing assets while it focuses on meeting the needs of Singaporeans through effective and efficient service delivery."

Singapore's economic model has long been based on the government's hands-on approach to most public services and business sectors.

Although Singapore has a reputation for having one of the most open and prosperous economies in Asia, government-linked companies dominate most key sectors.

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