SPEECH BY MR PETER ONG, PERMANENT SECRETARY, MINISTRY FOR
TRADE & INDUSTRY, AND CHAIRMAN, MARITIME & PORT AUTHORITY,
AT BERG PROPULSION PLANT OPENING CEREMONY ON 21 MAY 2008 AT 1850
HRS
His Excellency, Mr Pär Ahlberger,
Swedish Ambassador to
Singapore,
Mr Bjorn
Svensson,
Chairman of the Board, Berg
PropulsionAB,
Mr Aloysius
Hendricks,
Chief Executive Officer, Berg
PropulsionAB,
Distinguished
Guests,
Ladies and
Gentlemen,
Introduction
1.Good evening.I
am delighted to be here today to officiate at the Opening Ceremony
of Berg Propulsion’s first propeller manufacturing plant outside of
Sweden and its International Headquarters for sales and
marketing.
2.The
establishment of Berg Propulsion’s new plant here affirms several
things -- the significance of Singapore’s marine and offshore
industry, the depth and breadth of our capabilities and our
excellent business
environment.
Vibrant Marine & Offshore
Industry
3.Today,
Singapore is the biggest ship repair nation in the world. We are
also the largest manufacturer of offshore oil rigs, with 70 per
cent market share.We have global leadership in the conversion of
tankers to Floating Production Storage and Offloading Platforms or
FPSOs.
4.In 2006, the
marine and offshore industry achieved an output of S$9.8 billion, a
substantial 40 per cent growth over 2005.The global demand for ship
repair, FPSO conversions and offshore deepwater platforms remains
robust. Shipyards and companies in Singapore are reporting strong
order books and a high level of
activity.
5.We aspire to be
an integrated marine hub, comprising world class shipyards,
companies offering complex marine systems and components and
marine-related services. Companies here engage in a wide range of
activities, such as manufacturing, headquarter services, training,
research and development, engineering, regional distribution, and
more. Berg’s presence in Singapore is an important contribution to
our integrated marine hub.
Developing human resources for Singapore’s integrated
marine hub
6.In the future
evolution of the marine and offshore industry in Singapore, we are
emphasizing more knowledge, capital and innovation intensive
activities, all of which require well trained and educated human
resources. Our educational institutions play a key role in
developing people for industry. For example, both the National
University of Singapore and the NanyangTechnologicalUniversity have
final-year specializations and Master’s degree courses in Marine
& Offshore Engineering. Graduates of our polytechnics also have
opportunities to upgrade themselves with a university degree. Ngee
Ann and Singapore Polytechnic are working with University of
Newcastle Upon Tyne, to roll out a full-fledged Bachelor’s degree
in naval architecture and marine/ocean engineering, starting in
September of this year.
7.What this means
is that Berg Propulsion, and the marine industry, can look forward
to a steady stream of skilled and knowledgeable graduates from
these programs. In addition to developing capabilities within the
local workforce, Singapore adopts an open immigration policy to
enable a foreign talent pool to augment our local human resources,
thus providing a cosmopolitan workforce that will give companies
based here a competitive edge when entering into other markets in
the region.
Conclusion
8.In conclusion,
let me congratulate the management and staff of Berg Propulsion on
the opening of its Singapore manufacturing plant, as well as the
establishment of its International Headquarters for Sales and
Marketing here. This is an important milestone for Singapore and
Berg Propulsion.I look forward to many good years of working
together.