Your Excellency, Mr Franklin Lavin, US Ambassador to Singapore;

Mr RW Nelson, Worldwide Chairman, Kemin Industries, Inc.  (Care-Min)

Mrs Mary Nelson,

Dr Chris Nelson, Worldwide President of Kemin Industries;

Mr Athan Katsonos, President and CEO of Kemin Industries (Asia); (Air-than Cart-sa-nos)

Distinguished Guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen

1.         I am delighted to join you in celebrating the opening of Kemin Industries’ Asia Pacific Innovation Centre.  My congratulations to Kemin Industries on this happy occasion.

2.         Kemin Industries is the world number one manufacturer of non-nutritional and non-medicated feed additives.  It is also the first international animal feed and food additive manufacturer to locate its Asia Pacific headquarters in Singapore.  Kemin Industries (Asia) has been in Singapore now for close to 20 years.

3.         Today’s opening of the new S$2.5 million Asia-Pacific Innovation Centre demonstrates the company’s focus on accelerating the development of nutritional products for the Asia Pacific market.

4.         I am told that 25 scientists will be working at the Centre, doing research in chemistry, biochemistry and microbiology.  They will be able to draw from, as well as contribute to Kemin Industries’ global research database. This Centre will certainly enhance the Company’s international standing and research capability.   

5.         There are at present more than 30 companies dealing in various aspects of animal and plant sciences in Singapore.  This includes the world’s top 2 animal vaccines companies. The presence of this cluster is a clear endorsement of Singapore’s value as a regional hub and a R&D centre for the industry.

6.         With Kemin Industries’ latest investment, we make further strengthen Singapore’s resolve to be the developer and distributor of useful animal and plant science solutions through R&D and manufacturing.

Industry Overview

7.         Globally, the market for animal feed is expected to exceed 700 million tonnes per year.  The export of animal feed from East Asia has seen considerable growth. The region accounts for over 25 per cent of global feed production, second only to the United States, at 30 per cent.  With such strong growth demand, the world will rely more and more on science and technology to secure its food supplies.

8.         In animal science, the emphasis is on animal health and nutrition, which ranges from vaccines and antibiotics to animal feed additives and ingredients, and genetic pedigree selection.

9.         In plant science, the focus is on crop improvement and protection. This includes seed technology, seedlings cultivation, crop chemicals and seed medication.    

10.       As I mentioned earlier, Singapore has a strong base of local, regional and global players undertaking such activities.  Besides the quality infrastructure and connectivity, Singapore’s geographical location allows companies sited here to tap a vast hinterland of agricultural and aquatic resources for their purposes.  Our stringent intellectual property (IP) regime and worldwide reputation as a trusted food and feed safety hub are additional factors enabling us to attract and anchor a strong cluster of reputable food and food-related companies to carry out R&D work here.  And the clustering of such companies here also makes it easier for strategic partnerships and collaboration to take place among them. 

Singapore is a dedicated animal and plant sciences hub 

11.       On Singapore’s part, we have since 1986 embarked on an agro-technology programme through the Agri-food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA). The scheme develops technologies that improve the productivity of food crop and food animal cultivation. Singapore now has six specialised Agro-technology Parks covering a total land area of 1,500 ha.  Local companies such as Temasek Life Sciences Laboratories (TLL)[1], has since developed strength in the areas of cell biology, developmental biology and molecular pathogenesis.  Companies like TLL, research entities such as the Institute of Chemical and Engineering Sciences, and global players like Intervet International and Nestle provide a ready pool of partners for agro chemicals, feed additives, and seed technology companies.

Conclusion

12.       Singapore will continue to invest in this sector to strengthen our position.  The participation of key players such as Kemin Industries will be critical to our success.

13.       My congratulations once again to Kemin Industries on the official opening of your Asia Pacific Innovation Centre, and for your vote of confidence in Singapore as a choice location for such an undertaking.

Thank you.