Mr Hans Hess

Mr Clement Woon

Mr Svein Vatslid

Distinguished guests

Ladies and gentlemen

Good morning.

1.              I am pleased to be here this morning, to officiate at the opening of Leica Geosystems Technologies’ new plant in Singapore.  Your parent company, Leica Geosystems, is the world’s largest maker of surveying and engineering equipment, with a strong established brand name.  Its unwavering commitment to top-quality products has contributed to the outstanding reputation it currently enjoys internationally.

2.              With this plant, the company is consolidating its levelling and alignment, or L&A, global activities in Singapore – including R&D, industrial design, manufacturing, distribution and headquarters functions.  This is testimony to Singapore’s continued attractiveness as a high value global manufacturing location.

Leica Geosystems’ established partnership with Singapore

3.             Leica Geosystems’ partnership with Singapore dates back to 1971, when Leica Instruments Singapore was established to manufacture precision optical instruments and components for its two parent companies, Leica Geosystems and Leica Microsystems.

4.             Over the years, Leica Instruments Singapore has emerged as one of the major global manufacturing hubs for these two companies, growing from a component manufacturer to one making end-products.  In 2001, the company achieved another milestone by undertaking R&D to develop stereomicroscopes and digital levels.

5.             The opening of Leica Geosystems Technologies, or LGT’s, new plant today, represents yet another milestone in the Leica Geosystems-Singapore partnership.

Leveraging Singapore’s global leadership in manufacturing and services

6.             This new operation joins the ranks of the more than 4,000 MNCs that have located their global and regional headquarters in Singapore.  Many international investors remain confident of Singapore’s manufacturing industry, and continue to locate high value investments here.

7.             Our physical and trade connectivity, and quality workforce are some of the reasons that have positioned us well to add value to these companies’ global manufacturing operations out of Singapore.  In addition, our ability to offer the entire value chain of activities makes Singapore a very attractive location for manufacturing operations.  Two high value-added activities that we excel in are R&D and industrial design.

Strong industry-academia R&D links add value to manufacturing activities

8.             First, R&D.  Our strong base of research institutes, industry-focused higher learning institutions and highly-skilled resource pool, together with a robust intellectual property regime, have led many companies to make R&D an integral part of their activities here.

9.             LGT has clearly demonstrated this with its Sprinter Electronic Level, which was fully conceptualised and developed in Singapore in collaboration with local research institutes such as the Singapore Institute of Manufacturing Technologies, or SIMTech.  The industrial design for the product was also conducted in-house by the company in Singapore.

10.          LGT’s collaboration with SIMTech is a good reflection of the trust and confidence that many local and foreign companies in Singapore have in our R&D infrastructure.  We will continue to equip our local research institutes with the best talent and the latest equipment to strengthen their relationship with the industry, and to introduce the latest technologies to the industry to give them the edge over other competing economies.

11.          I understand that LGT will outsource the fabrication of modules and precision components and perform final assembly and testing of L&A instruments in-house.  As I mentioned earlier, it will consolidate its global L&A activities, including manufacturing, in Singapore.  This will further strengthen our global leadership in manufacturing across many product areas.

Singapore - towards an industrial design hub

12.         Second, industrial design.  As part of our continued efforts to boost our manufacturing excellence, EDB is promoting this sector in Singapore.  We believe that good design can give companies a head-up over their competitors, thereby adding value to our manufacturing activities.

13.         Going forward, we will encourage more local companies, especially those manufacturing finished products, to carry out more industrial design locally.  We will also improve the quality of industrial design as well as increase awareness of it, to emphasise the competitive edge and commercial value that it can bring to businesses.

14.          LGT is a shining example of a company which has given its vote of confidence to Singapore’s industrial design capabilities, through the design, R&D and manufacturing of sophisticated L&A equipment such as the Sprinter Electronic Level.  This, in turn, will contribute towards EDB’s vision of establishing Singapore as an industrial design hub.

15.         Once again, I would like to thank LGT for its commitment to Singapore.  I wish you every success, and look forward to more products from you designed and made in Singapore. 

Thank you.