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Norsun selects Singapore for its new solar wafer plant |
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REMARKS BY MR KO KHENG HWA, MANAGING DIRECTOR, SINGAPORE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BOARD, AT THE JOINT MEDIA CONFERENCE BETWEEN EDB AND NORSUN ON 4 MARCH 2008, 11.00 AM
Dr Alf Bjorseth, Founder of NorSun AS and Chairman of Scatec AS,
Mr Jon Hindar, Chief Executive Officer of NorSun AS,
Members of the Media,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Good morning.
1. We are delighted that NorSun has chosen Singapore as the location for its Solar Wafer Manufacturing Facility. It is my pleasure to welcome Dr Bjorseth and Mr Hindar who have both flown into Singapore specially for this announcement. It says a great deal about the importance NorSun has placed on this project. This project is also important to Singapore as it represents yet another major step forward in Singapore’s ambition to develop a world-class solar energy industry.
Diversifying the Solar Ecosystem
2. Singapore is implementing a comprehensive blueprint to develop and grow our solar industry. A key strategy in this blueprint is the development of a vibrant industry ecosystem comprising three mutually reinforcing elements of leading edge research and innovation, advanced manufacturing and critical supporting companies. We have made rapid progress in the past 12 months. Besides attracting solar companies like Renewable Energy Corporation, Solar-Fabrik and SolarWorld to invest in Singapore, we have also convinced solar equipment suppliers and supporting companies such as Oerlikon Solar to set up here. SERIS, or the Solar Energy Research Institute of Singapore was launched just two weeks ago at the National University of Singapore. Led by Professor Joachim Luther, the former Director of the world renowned Fraunhofer Institute of Solar Energy Systems, this new institute will conduct world-class R&D and train specialist manpower for the solar energy sector.
3. Attracting talent and training manpower in this field is the other key pillar in our blueprint. We have launched postgraduate scholarships for Clean Technology and our polytechnics and universities will offer new courses in Clean Technology in the new academic year starting soon. EDB has also worked out comprehensive local and overseas manpower training programmes with companies investing in solar projects in Singapore.
4. This has been our success formula for winning world scale investments in the solar industry: availability of talent and manpower with strong capabilities across the whole value chain of research, innovation and manufacturing plus our excellent business environment.
5. The recent slate of announcements on major investments and initiatives clearly show that the Singapore solar industry is gaining strong momentum across many fronts. This will create many business opportunities and career choices. Today’s announcement of NorSun’s decision to locate its largest ever manufacturing investment in Singapore is indeed another big booster shot for our rapidly growing solar industry. This USD 300 million world scale facility will produce monocrystalline silicon solar wafers, the first of its kind in Singapore, and will diversify our solar industry ecosystem here. This project will also generate significant spin-offs to our supporting industry and provide opportunities for them to upgrade, diversify and enter the new high-growth area of solar energy.
Conclusion
6. We thank NorSun for your strong vote of confidence in Singapore. Singapore shares the same commitment and enthusiasm for the solar industry as NorSun, and we are proud that NorSun has chosen us as your trusted partner to support the company’s ambitious expansion plans. We will continue to work closely with you to implement this project successfully. We look forward to achieving, with your help, our goal of developing Singapore into a global hub where solar energy products and solutions are developed and made here for the global market. |
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