Nestle, Cameron boost presence in Singapore

PHOTO: Nestle, Cameron boost presence in Singapore

Nestle has opened a new extension to its research and development (R&D) centre here.

The Swiss food giant invested almost 4 million Swiss francs ($5 million) in the extension, which is expected to create 20 new jobs this year.

"With this investment, our R&D centre in Singapore becomes our leading global R&D centre for Nescafe coffee mixes and Milo," said Mr Johannes Baensch, Nestle's global head of R&D, at the opening ceremony on Wednesday.

Apart from its Singapore research centre, which was the company's first to be opened in Asia, Nestle has similar facilities in Shanghai, Beijing and Tokyo.

The centre employs about 100 staff from 17 countries, specialised in fields such as mechanical engineering, analytical chemistry, microbiology and sensory science.

Separately, oil and gas company Cameron on Wednesday opened its new aftermarket drilling facility in Singapore.

While the facility will primarily serve major ship yards and offshore drilling contractors across Asia, it will also provide after-market support for Cameron's global customer base.

The new facility will increase Cameron's workforce in Singapore to more than 1,200 by the end of the year.

"The oil and gas industry in Asia is experiencing extraordinary growth, so it was important that we extend our best-in-class after-market services to customers in the region," said Mr Glenn Chiasson, president of Cameron's drilling systems division.

This is Cameron's second major facility in Singapore.

The first, operational since 1973, serves Cameron's surface, process and compression systems, valves and measurement and corporate services businesses.

Cameron has invested more than US$200 million (S$250 million) in its Singapore operations to date.


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