S'pore to continue industry upgrades for more sustainable manufacturing

Govt will work with sector leaders, invest in what makes nation competitive: DPM Gan

- Ovais Subhani Senior Business Correspondent

Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong listening to a briefing by ExxonMobil Asia Pacific basestocks & waxes optimiser Yeo Ying Qian, during the opening ceremony of ExxonMobil's Resid Upgrade Project on Jurong Island on Dec 16, with DPM Gan are (from left) ExxonMobil Asia Pacific chairwoman and managing director Geraldine Chin, Economic Development Board managing director Jermaine Loy, Exxon Mobil corporation senior vice-president Jack Williams, JTC Corporation assistant chief executive David Tan, and ExxonMobil venture executive and project director Khalid Ashraf. ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM

(KEVIN LIM)

Singapore will continue to upgrade its industries, including the energy and chemicals (E&C) sector, to achieve higher-value, lower-carbon and more sustainable manufacturing, even in a challenging global economic environment, said Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong.

To achieve this goal, the Government will work with industry leaders and invest in what makes the Republic competitive - its skilled workforce, high-quality infrastructure, pro-business environment, and integration into global flows of energy, goods and talent, DPM Gan, who is also Minister for Trade and Industry, said on Dec 16.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of US energy giant ExxonMobil's Resid Upgrade Project - which produces higher-value lubricant base stocks and lower-sulphur fuels - DPM Gan said that within the E&C sector, ExxonMobil is one of Singapore's "most significant" partners.

The new plant is ExxonMobil's only facility in the world for now to produce the top-of-the-line new lube base stock called EHC 340 MAX, supplying customers in Asia, Europe and North America.