DuPont R&D centre, HQ to be operational in Singapore
DuPont yesterday highlighted its commitment to Asean with the unveiling of plans for the region's first research and development facility and business headquarters to become operational in Singapore next year.
Hsing Ho, managing director of DuPont Asean, said the company had invested consistently in Asean over the past 40 years. Last year witnessed three investments in the region – DuPont Pioneer’s hybrid-corn-seed production plant in Lamphun province, the new Myanmar office in Yangon, and a new joint site in Singapore supplying products to agriculture and electronics customers.
"Today, we have a total of 13 production plants throughout Asean. Ten are in agriculture [including the Singapore joint site], two are making advanced materials for aerospace, automotive and other applications, and one making food ingredients.
"We also have corporate offices in almost all Asean member states," he said during an Asean media briefing at the company’s Thailand Innovation Centre.
Asean continues to rank among DuPont’s top three largest sub-regions in the Asia-Pacific region, he said.
The company’s top growth potentials in Asean lie in several market segments, including agriculture (seed, crop protection), oil palm and derivatives, food, oil and gas, renewable energy and automobile products.
The agriculture and food business could surpass other businesses here in revenue growth. Demand for food is rising as the Asean population increases from 630 million to more than 700 million in 2030. The rising middle class will mean increasing demand for healthier and nutritious food.
"Science and technology can play a bigger role in support of the region’s food safety and security. The Asean Economic Community should consider refocusing its agenda towards enhancing the region’s agriculture community.
"To enable farmers to have better access to technology and know-how, a coordinated and harmonised review and regulatory framework can reduce cycle time for new product introduction while maintaining the rigour of product safety," Ho said.
Tony Su, president of DuPont Asia-Pacific, underscored the company’s strategic focus areas after the July 1 separation of its performance chemicals segment.
"DuPont has been accelerating its transformation to a higher growth, higher value, global science and innovation company," he said.
"The next-generation DuPont is better able to help solve major global challenges. This will enable our customers to provide plentiful, healthier food, adopt renewably sourced advanced materials, generate renewable energy and build better infrastructure and transportation."
Ho said the new business and R&D hub in Singapore would support all the market segments in Asean, including food and agriculture, industrial bio-sciences and advanced materials.
"DuPont has been bringing world-class science and engineering to the global marketplace in the form of innovative products, materials and services since 1802.
"The company believes that by collaborating with customers, governments, NGOs and thought leaders, we can help find solutions to such global challenges as providing enough healthy food for people everywhere, decreasing dependence on fossil fuels and protecting life and the environment."
