Procter & Gamble (NYSE: PG) marked a significant milestone today as it celebrated 35 years of operations in Singapore. The celebrations were attended by esteemed guests, including Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Mr. Lawrence Wong, U.S. Ambassador to Singapore, Jonathan Kaplan, among other distinguished figures from statutory boards, government agencies, and business partners.
P&G's journey in Singapore mirrors the remarkable growth story of the city-nation itself. The company commenced its Singapore operations in 1987 with a sales team of fewer than 100 individuals following the acquisition of Richardson-Vicks. Today, P&G Singapore has grown to about 2300 employees from more than 40 nationalities and serves as the Asia Pacific Headquarters for the company, as well as the Global Headquarters for SK-II, Skin & Personal Care businesses, serving millions of consumers in the region. The company also has a state-of-the-art Singapore Innovation Centre, its hub of R&D in the region, and one of the largest private R&D centers in Singapore.
At the celebration event, P&G announced that it will invest more than S$ 100 million to set up a new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Singapore. This substantial investment represents P&G'sstrategic vision to harness Singapore's position as a global epicenter for trade, technology, and talent. Moreover, this undertaking will create more high-value-added jobs and make a positive impact on the local communities in Singapore. To commemorate the 35th anniversary, the company in partnership with the South West CDC and Enterprise Singapore, also announced a special initiative that will recognize 35 merchants in Singapore who are the lifeblood of the local community.
As part of its commitment to innovation, P&G shared that it will unveil 'the P&G Beauty Continuum'during the upcoming World Congress of Dermatology (WCD) hosted in Singapore in July. This groundbreaking initiative leverages cutting-edge molecular, cellular, and facial imaging data to provide a holistic understanding of the skin which will enable innovative and superior solutions for consumers worldwide.
Speaking at the occasion, P&G President for Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa, Stanislav Vecera, said: “We are immensely proud to celebrate 35 years of P&G's remarkable journey in Singapore. From our humble beginnings with a small sales team in 1987 to become our regional headquarters, it has been an incredible growth story. Today, with around 2,300 talented employees from diverse backgrounds, we continue to serve millions of consumers in this vibrant region. Singapore has been instrumental in our success, providing a strategic location, a thriving business ecosystem, and exceptional talent. We are grateful to be part of Singapore’s thriving digital and innovation ecosystem and work closely with partners like Economic Development Board, A*STAR, Enterprise Singapore, and JTC Corporation. These partnerships have enabled us to be a force for growth and a force for good in Singapore, our home in the Asia Pacific. As we look ahead, we are filled with excitement for the next 35 years and beyond. Together with our partners and the Singapore community, we will unlock new opportunities, drive innovation, and make a positive impact on society as we aim to be well-positioned as a company of the future.”
Speaking at the occasion, U.S. Ambassador to Singapore, Jonathan Kaplan said: “American businesses form the cornerstone of Brand USA and P&G is a shining example. The company's standards, innovation, and values represent what our nation stands for and what we bring to our partners abroad.”
This April, P&G marked the 15th anniversary of its Singapore Pioneer Plant in Tuas. Set up in 2008 P&G’s Singapore Pioneer Plant is one of four global P&G sites manufacturing perfumes. The perfumes are supplied to P&G’s manufacturing sites within the region for its Fabric, Home Care, and Beauty businesses. The Pioneer Plant is also home to P&G’s Children’s Safe Drinking Water (CSDW) manufacturing. The CSDW Program was started in 2004 to provide clean water to children and families in need around the world. The program provides an easy-to-use water purification packet invented by P&G scientists that can clean 10 liters of contaminated water and make it drinkable in just 30 minutes. The CSDW sachets produced at this plant have been instrumental in P&G efforts to support disaster relief efforts and communities without access to clean drinking water on an ongoing basis such as recent floods in Pakistan and cholera outbreaks in multiple countries in Africa. P&G has now provided 21 billion liters of clean water to communities in need around the world through this program.
Distinguished guests to the celebratory gala event were treated to enthralling performances by the talented Singaporean musical artist Benjamin Kheng, as well as renowned acappella band The Apex Project.
P&G employees continue to play an active role in society and local communities in Singapore. Every year, the company leads programs to support vulnerable communities in the country, and its employees also take part in activities supporting environmental sustainability.
