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SINGAPORE: As Singapore seeks to grow as an aerospace leader in the region, some industry players said there is a need to further develop and sharpen skills and technology.
Keen competition is expected to come from China, but experts noted that Singapore can still draw on its comparative advantage.
Singapore is now seen as the most comprehensive maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) hub in Asia. More than 100 international firms are operating here, including Rolls Royce which has set up a manufacturing base at the Seletar Aerospace Park.
The country is keen to draw other big names, but some industry players said there is a need to upgrade technology and skills.
Aloysius Tay, chief executive, Association of Aerospace Industries, said: "We have a very strong precision engineering industry. Many of our industry players are able to produce whatever drawing is given to them for the parts.
"These parts will have to make up a bigger component. The making of that bigger component needs a lot more specialised and competent skills. At the moment we are finding it a challenge to search for such companies."
Experts said Singapore needs to attract more people into the sector and encourage further training to fill highly-skilled blue collar jobs in the sector.
It can also tap on its comparative advantage, amid keen competition from China and the Middle East.
Leithen Francis, deputy Asia editor, Flight Global, said: "Sometimes there are parts for aircrafts that need to be turned around very quickly. Singapore can be very good at that. And Singapore is very good at project managing - being given a task and delivering it on time or ahead of time.
"Singapore can position itself where maybe some of the work is not actually being done in Singapore but in other countries (due to) lower cost, but Singapore still has a role in managing the project."
Singapore's aerospace industry has grown at an average rate of 13.3 per cent annually since 1990. It is seen as a key growth area amid efforts to diversify the economy.
- CNA/yt
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