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19 Nov 2004
Speech by Mr Teo Ming Kian, Chairman, Singapore Economic Development Board, at the Motorola 3G R&D Centre inauguration on 19 November 2004
Mr Bill Werner
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen
Good afternoon.
- It is a pleasure for me to be here today for the inauguration of Motorola's 3G R&D Centre. More so, as this is the latest in a series of significant investments made by Motorola in Singapore - including the IHQ, International Trading Centre and 3G handset manufacturing - all within the last year.
Motorola's long partnership with Singapore
- This centre is a manifestation of the enduring, strengthening partnership between Motorola and Singapore. On the technical front, Motorola started an engineering support centre for pagers and two-way radios here 20 years ago. It has evolved into an R&D centre where award-winning GSM handsets are designed and developed for global markets. I understand, for example, that it has been responsible for four of the world's most popular GSM handsets this year.
- Motorola's operations in Singapore parallel our economic development. They have progressed from simple assembly to skills-intensive manufacturing, and now to even higher value knowledge-intensive activities that encompass both intellectual capital creation and its exploitation through high-value manufacturing.
- The establishment of this centre, to develop the next generation of Motorola handsets, represents a significant milestone for the company as it strives to enhance its global competitiveness through continuous innovation, using Singapore as a strategic base. We thank Motorola for this vote of confidence in Singapore, considering this centre?s strategic significance to the company.
- Innovation is fundamental to Motorola's business, as it is to Singapore's development. As technological advancement accelerates and the world becomes more globalised, innovation and enterprise will be critical to success, be it for company or country.
- We therefore strongly welcome the establishment of this centre in Singapore. It entrenches Motorola's strong tradition of innovation here. It will usher in a whole range of mobile products, services and applications, which will enable the realisation of Motorola Chairman & CEO Ed Zander's vision of "seamless mobility". And it allows Singapore to play a part in Motorola's global strategy.
- Just as the Singapore Design Centre, the company's global centre of competence for GSM mass-market products, has played a significant role in Motorola's GSM successes, I have no doubt that this Singapore 3G R&D centre will play a big role in realising Motorola's 3G strategy as it develops cutting-edge 3G products for the global market.
- The development of 3G competencies by the new centre will also strengthen the company's existing manufacturing activities here, and make Singapore a self-contained end-to-end site for Motorola's 3G thrust. The close synergy between development and manufacturing that enables quick time-to-market will enhance the competitiveness of its Ang Mo Kio plant, which is already the main manufacturing hub for 3G handsets.
Singapore's attractiveness in consumer electronics manufacturing
- EDB, on our part, will continue to strengthen the operating conditions and total environment for electronics companies like Motorola to thrive.
- A vibrant ecosystem is already evolving and companies like Motorola are both key players and beneficiaries of this. With the established base of IC design, display and mobile software technology companies and Singapore's fertile environment for test-bedding of new technologies, companies like Motorola are able to make ground-breaking developments and effectively integrate activities along the whole value chain for the crucial competitive edge in the global market. Such activities, in turn, enhance our competitiveness as a manufacturing hub.
Singapore poised to be a leading mobility hub.
- Singapore is also gathering strength as a leading mobility hub. This year, we have already seen some significant developments including the establishment of Bridge Mobile's global headquarters and R&D presence. Mobile365 has its Asia Pacific HQ and core network hub here. And Motorola's 3G R&D handset centre contributes another significant piece to this mobility hub.
- Let me therefore thank Motorola for its commitment to Singapore and again, let me congratulate the management and staff of Motorola on the inauguration of this centre. I look forward to seeing your ever-more innovative applications and services in the market. Thank you.
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