SMS Lee at ASPRI Lohei cum MOU signing with WDA

SPEECH BY MR LEE YI SHYAN, SENIOR MINISTER OF STATE FOR TRADE & INDUSTRY AND NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT, AT THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING (MOU) SIGNING CEREMONY BETWEEN THE SINGAPORE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AGENCY (WDA) AND FIVE PROCESS–ENGINEERING SERVICES COMPANIES ON WEDNESDAY, 20 FEBRUARY 2013, 7.00PM

Mr Charles Quek, President, Association of Process Industry

ASPRI members, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen

First of all, let me wish each and every one of you a happy and blessed Lunar New Year. I am pleased to join you this evening for this joyous Lohei celebration.

Overview

The Process engineering services industry is one of the largest within the manufacturing sector in Singapore, with a workforce of over 100,000 across four subsectors - Chemicals, Engineering Services, Pharmaceuticals and Environmental Technology.

As part of the larger chemical and petrochemicals eco-system, process companies play a critical support role in engineering design, consultancy, procurement, plant installation and maintenance services.

The industry has remained resilient despite recent economic uncertainty, contributing over three percent to Singapore’s GDP as of last year.

Challenges faced by the Process Industry

For the industry to grow, our companies must be more competitive as they face increasing competition from global and emerging regional players. Our firms must undertake high-value added work as they rise up the value chain.  Our workers too will be required to multi-task and undertake more complex jobs.  In short, the industry must start to acquire design capabilities, and be able to undertake larger scale jobs both locally and overseas.

Development and Apprenticeship Programme (DNA) and productivity push

I am pleased that ASPRI has taken the lead to address these challenges. The Development and Apprenticeship Programme (DNA) is a manpower development initiative for the Process–Engineering Services companies. The programme provides incentives to encourage companies to hire new entrants into the Process industry and support their development through a structured training and career progression pathway via Singapore Workforce Skills Qualifications (WSQ) training, company-specific training and structured apprenticeship.

Given our recent productivity push and emphasis for local companies to reduce over reliance on foreign workers for growth, the signing of the MOU with WDA today is timely. The MOU will help nurture a sustainable pool of local skilled talents to meet the immediate and future needs of the industry. It will also provide a structured development and career progression pathway to attract more Singaporeans to join the industry.

I commend ASPRI and WDA for their leadership in this initiative. I would like to applaud the five companies that have committed to upgrading their workforce.  Together we can do more to encourage our students and PMETs to consider a career in the Process industry.

Have a healthy, prosperous and happy new year. Thank you.

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