SINGAPORE: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said that
by allowing the controlled entry of foreign workers, Singapore has
attracted one of the largest investments in the country and created
more jobs for Singaporeans.
Mr Lee said this during a speech at the opening of
chipmakers Intel and Micron's joint venture manufacturing plant IM
Flash Singapore Nand Flash Wafer Fab on Thursday.
The 300 millimetre NAND facility is a first in
Singapore and is one of the largest investments at US$3
billion.
The plant manufactures NAND flash memory chips using the 25
nanometre process technology that are used in smartphones and
tablets.
Mr Lee said it is expected to bring significant spinoffs to
supporting industries.
Currently, IM Flash Singapore employs 1,200 workers of which six in
10 are Singaporeans and permanent residents (PRs), while four in 10
are foreigners
"Without the foreign workers, we would not have attracted this US$3
billion investment, and Intel and Micron would have built its wafer
fab elsewhere," PM Lee said.
"But by allowing in a controlled number of foreign workers, far
from disadvantaging Singaporean workers, we have created more good
jobs for Singaporeans," he continued.
"For every one foreign worker, we have created 1.5 local jobs in
this project," PM Lee said.
So far, Singaporeans and PRs take up about two-thirds of the
managerial and professional positions, while two-thirds of
technician and manufacturing jobs are done by the foreigners.
The opening of the facility comes as demand for consumer
electronics is increasing amid better economic conditions
globally.
The construction of the facility was put on hold in 2008 as
consumer sentiment collapsed in the wake of the financial
crisis.
It now aims to be at full production levels later in 2011.
Save Baglee, vice president and director of NAND manufacturing and
operations at Intel said, "The IM Flash joint venture has been able
to create tremendous momentum and industry leading manufacturing
capabilities. We look forward to adding IM Flash Singapore to our
global manufacturing network."
- CNA/fa