Speech at Alcon’s Ground Breaking Ceremony For Manufacturing Plant In Singapore
Mr Gan Kim Yong, Minister , Tuas South Avenue 14
Mr Ed McGough, Senior Vice President, Global Manufacturing and Technology Operations, Alcon
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Good morning,
Introduction
1. On my way here to join you this morning, it was quite apparent that a growing community of leading biomedical sciences (BMS) companies have chosen Singapore to site their key global manufacturing sites.
2. Today, Alcon joins this community as it begins construction of its newest manufacturing plant in Singapore's Tuas Biomedical Park. When completed, the plant is expected to hire some 150 people, increasing Alcon's current headcount in Singapore by nearly 4 times. Such business expansion and job creation are indeed heartening especially in this current economic climate. Alcon is not alone. Several other new manufacturing plants will also open in Singapore over the next three years. This year alone, BMS companies are looking to fill 900 positions. These are good jobs, many of which are highly skilled positions such as chemical engineers, validation specialists and microbiologists. These investments are strong endorsements of Singapore's competitiveness in biomedical sciences manufacturing.
Singapore as Home-base for Companies' Growth in Asia
3. Asia holds much promise for BMS companies, given the size and growth of its market, combined with the large talent and resource base here. Asia is also home to a rising middle class and growing consumer affluence. By locating their Asia-Pacific base within the region, these companies can develop and produce for the expanding regional markets more effectively so that the products can reach their consumers more quickly.
4. Take Alcon for instance. Alcon is the world's largest eye-care provider and continues to maintain its leadership position in the industry. Alcon is poised to capitalise on the growing incidence of eye diseases in the region especially with the greying population. Singapore is proud to be Alcon's first Asian plant, to serve as the home-base for its growth in Asia.
5. I am also glad to hear Ed McGough say that he chose Singapore as the prime location for this plant because of our skilled and reliable workforce, together with our well-developed infrastructure. These are our key competitive advantages.
Committed to Developing Talent
6. Indeed, talent is a key driver for our growth. We must continue to reshape Singapore into a dynamic global city where talent will live, learn, work, and play.
7. Singapore is working closely with companies to retain and enhance their existing talent base. Companies can tap on various measures such as Jobs Credit scheme, Skills Programme for Upgrading and Resilience (SPUR), SPUR-JOBS, Professional Skills Programme Traineeships (PSPT) and the Economic Development Board's PREP-UP schemes. These measures will help businesses preserve jobs in the downturn and enable them to build up the necessary local manpower capabilities to prepare for the economic upturn.
8. One such measure is SPUR-JOBS. SPUR-JOBS encourages companies to recruit and retain local workers who are trainees of SPUR and other WDA CET programmes. SPUR-JOBS will provide financial support for on-the-job training after workers have been hired, and design or redesign jobs to make them more suitable for locals. Another is the PSP Traineeship scheme, aimed at helping companies in growth sectors such as biomedical sciences manufacturing build new manpower capabilities. Companies can tap on PSPT to hire fresh graduates and retrenched PMETs as trainees.
9. We are committed to working with biomedical sciences companies to develop the manpower capabilities of the sector. BMS companies can leverage on the Workforce Skills Qualifications (WSQ) framework to upgrade their existing workers' skills to ensure they remain competitive in the global landscape.
10. I am pleased to announce that Alcon has just become a member of the Singapore Workforce Skills Qualification (WSQ) Pharmaceuticals Technical Committee. Alcon, together with other industry players, will help shape the development of the WSQ framework. This industry involvement is extremely useful in strengthening and validating the WSQ framework.
Conclusion
11. Alcon's decision to site its first Asia-Pacific manufacturing plant here in Singapore is a strong vote of confidence for Singapore and our attractiveness to businesses. EDB has also played a pivotal role in helping Alcon start up this plant today. Singapore remains committed to providing a conducive and supportive environment that facilitates biomedical companies' expansion here. With this, I wish Alcon's management and staff every success.
12. Thank you.