Speech by Minister S Iswaran at the opening of P and G E-Center and launch of 2nd run of P and G Leadership College

SPEECH BY GUEST OF HONOUR MINISTER S ISWARAN, MINISTER FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY (INDUSTRY) AT OPENING OF P&G E-CENTER AND LAUNCH OF 2ND RUN OF P&G LEADERSHIP COLLEGE ON 18 APRIL 2017, 9.25AM 

Mr Magesvaran Suranjan, President of P&G Asia-Pacific, 

Distinguished guests, 

Ladies and Gentlemen, 

Good morning 

Opening remarks

1. I am pleased to join you this morning and let me begin by congratulating P&G on your 30th anniversary in Singapore. 

2. P&G and Singapore have a longstanding and fruitful partnership.  P&G first established its 100-man regional sales office in Singapore in 1987.  Today, Singapore serves as P&G’s Asia-Pacific Headquarters with 2,000 employees across a range of functions, including brand management, marketing, supply chain management, consumer insights, design and manufacturing.  Singapore is also one of P&G’s global hubs for innovation and talent development.  I understand that P&G employs 400 researchers at its Singapore Innovation Center (SGIC), and trains over 500 managers annually at its Asia Leadership Development Center in Singapore.

3. The opening of P&G’s E-Center, as well as the launch of the second run of the P&G Leadership College, marks another significant milestone and a timely development in our partnership. 

Digitalisation will transform and catalyse growth in industries, including Consumer Business.

4. The adoption of digital technologies (digitalisation) is transforming industries and catalysing their growth, and the Consumer Business is no exception.  For example, consumer business companies can optimise their operations by leveraging advanced analytics for predicative maintenance, as well as machine learning to aid decision-making in supply chain operations.  E-commerce platforms have also enabled companies to provide more customised offerings to suit the different needs of consumers. 

The Government will continue to partner the industry to anchor new digital capabilities, strengthen our local ecosystem and equip our people with digital skillsets. 

5. Preparing our industries, firms and workforce for the changes and opportunities of the digital economy is a major priority for Singapore.  A key recommendation of the Committee on the Future Economy (CFE) is for Singapore to build up strong digital capabilities, and promote the adoption of digital technologies across our economy. 

6. We are starting from a relatively good position, as evident in the high rankings accorded to our digital and network readiness by various international reports.  For example, the World Economic Forum (WEF)’s Global Information Technology Study 2016 ranked Singapore as the country best placed to generate economic growth from info-communications and technology (ICT) investments.

7. We will continue to partner leading companies to anchor new digital capabilities, strengthen our local ecosystem, and equip our people with the requisite skillsets for the digital economy.  Our partnership with P&G is a good example of how we are doing this.

Anchoring new digital capabilities 

8. This E-Center, P&G’s first digital innovation centre outside the US, will have the capabilities and mandate to develop digital solutions in supply chain management, analytics and e-commerce for the company’s Asia-Pacific operations.  P&G will be investing more than US$100 million over the next 5 years in support of this centre.

Strengthening our local ecosystem 

9. Partnerships between large and small enterprises are also an important means to catalyse the adoption of digital technologies. 

10. An example is the partnership between P&G and Golden Wheel Industries (GWI), a local SME providing contract manufacturing and packaging services.  With support from SPRING Singapore, GWI collaborated with the P&G Singapore Innovation Center to develop sample batches of P&G’s hair, skincare and consumer products.  Through this partnership, GWI staff were trained in digital systems to improve the productivity of manufacturing processes, such as automating the recording of manufacturing data and results.  The experience and skills GWI gained in working with digital systems has also enabled the company to enhance its services to clients. 

11. Under the E-Center, P&G will expand its partnerships with local SMEs and start-ups, and support their capability upgrading by co-developing new digital solutions.  I also understand that the second run of the P&G Leadership College, which provides SMEs access to P&G’s global leadership development curriculum, will focus on the topics of Digital and E-commerce.

Equipping our people with digital skillsets

12. Digitalisation will also have a profound impact on the nature and content of jobs, and the way we work.  Hence, we will continue to partner the industry and education institutions to equip our people with the skillsets that are needed to succeed in the digital economy.  

13. For example, P&G will be training 40 employees to take on the new digital roles at the E-Center.  P&G will also work closely with our Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs) to co-develop industry-relevant curriculum in digital skillsets.  

14. Mr Tan Eu Jack is one employee who has benefited from P&G’s training efforts.  He began his career in P&G as a System Analyst in 2007.  P&G supported him to undergo training in web and mobile technologies, e-Commerce, cloud computing and the Internet-of-Things.  He is now a Senior IT Manager and e-Business expert in P&G’s global SK-II team, and is responsible for developing digital tools to support the brand’s transformation into an omni-channel shopping experience. 

Closing remarks 

15. Let me conclude by once again congratulating P&G on completing 30 successful years in Singapore.  I am confident that this new E-Center will better position P&G and Singapore to capture future opportunities in the digital economy.  We look forward to further deepening and broadening our partnership, and wish you every success in your ventures.  Thank you.

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