Speech at Chemical Industry Open Day
Mr Gan Kim Yong, Acting Minister for Manpower, Oasis@Sakra, Jurong Island
Dr Chockalingam, Chairman of Singapore Chemical Industry Council
Representatives from the chemical industry,
Parents and students,
Distinguished guests,
Introduction
1. Good afternoon. I am pleased to join you at the inaugural Chemical Industry Experience (ChemEx). This is the first time the chemical industry has held an industry-wide, open house event and I am heartened by the good turnout today. I hope your visit to the various chemical plants on Jurong Island this morning has piqued your interest in this industry.
Exciting Times for the Chemical Industry
2. These are exciting times for the chemical industry. As you can see this morning, we have attracted a plethora of key industry players to set up and root their operations here. In fact, the industry's output doubled from S$39 billion in 2004 to S$82 billion in 2007. The plan by industry giants Shell and ExxonMobil to build two mega crackers here will have a positive knock-on effect, as high value downstream specialty chemicals and advanced polymers will also co-locate here. The entire industry will move up the value chain, strengthening Singapore's position as a leading energy and chemical hub.
Practical Applications for Society
3. The chemical industry takes innovations seriously and we are the site of innovation for several new technologies. For instance, UK-based Tate & Lyle opened a S$300 million sucralose plant on Jurong Island to produce the no-calorie sweetener that has a unique taste profile suited for food and beverage products. This is Tate & Lyle's only sucralose plant outside of the U.S. As the industry grows, you can expect a myriad of exciting job opportunities for engineers, chemists and technicians. And your work will be meaningful. You will be able to utilise your creativity to help shape a better world by driving modern-day inventions and innovations in service of people and society.
4. New innovation centres such as 3M's Superhub Campus and Mitsui Chemical's catalysis lab will offer fascinating and unique challenges for engineers and researchers. You will be able to apply the skills you have learnt; yet you will need to continuously upgrade and pick up new skills to stay ahead.
Inspiring Passion
5. Many of you are already studying in disciplines that will equip you with an excellent foundation suited for the chemical industry. To succeed, you will need to be dynamic, adaptable and be a team player. Most important of all – you need to be passionate about the job.
6. Take Ms Quah Yen Loo for example - a technologist with Shell Eastern Petroleum who is always on the go. Her work offers ample opportunities to apply what she had learnt in school and helps her develop professionally. She enjoys being part of a dynamic and knowledgeable team that is helping to develop and build Shell's new cracker plant. In fact, Ms Quah describes her work as akin to seeing through the birth of a baby! We need more talents like her in the chemical industry and we hope they will come from those among you here today.
Continued Commitment to Safety
7. While the industry is poised for growth, we must also ensure that its projects are safely carried out. While the government can set mandatory training requirement for the workforce in high-risk work areas, the onus is on the industry to provide continuous safety education and nurture a strong safety culture among its workers. I am heartened that industry players are responding positively, demonstrating a commitment to better workplace safety. For instance, I recently opened ExxonMobil's Safety Training and Security Centre to provide training for its workforce and develop a safety-first mindset. This and other industry efforts will collectively help ensure that the chemical industry will offer a safe, secure working environment.
Conclusion
8. Finally, I commend the Chemical Industry Manpower Advisory Committee, the Singapore Chemical Industry Council, all participating companies and Government Agencies for organising today's open house. I hope the event has given you fresh insights, perspectives and a privileged insider's look into the chemical industry. A range of activities have been arranged for you this afternoon. I wish you an exciting and rewarding experience. And to the students gathered here today, I wish you the very best in your studies and in your future careers.