To facilitate the food manufacturing sector’s next phase of growth and transformation, Enterprise Singapore (Enterprise SG) and Workforce Singapore (WSG) have refreshed the Food Manufacturing Industry Transformation Map (ITM) 2025 and Jobs Transformation Map (JTM) respectively.
The refreshed transformation maps are expected to create some 2,500 new jobs within the sector in the short-term.
Manpower Minister and Trade and Industry Second Minister Tan See Leng launched the refreshed ITM and JTM on 14 December 2022, during the official opening of Sin Mui Heng Food Industries’ new factory at Bedok Food City.
According to Enterprise SG, the Food Manufacturing ITM 2025 aims to “establish Singapore as a trusted food and nutrition leader, and the preferred launchpad into Asia for quality brands.”
Meanwhile, the JTM aims to enable employers and their workforce – identifying pathways for employers to transform jobs while supporting workers in the acquisition of essential skills as existing jobs evolve and new ones emerge.
Dr Tan said: “Business and workforce transformation must go hand-in-hand. Businesses cannot transform unless their workers are capable of supporting the new business models and job roles.
“Having skilled workers is what enables a business to transform. At the same time, when businesses transform, workers will be more motivated to go for reskilling to seize new opportunities.”
Sin Mui Heng Food Industries specialises in dim sum production and distribution.
Established in 1961, the company today provides over 300 types of gourmet dim sum to local and international hotels, restaurants and caterers.
Over the last decade, Sin Mui Heng has been steadily increasing its exports, which contributes to some 20 per cent of its total sales revenue.
The company hopes to bring up this percentage to 50 per cent in the next five years, through the aid of automation and product innovation.
To tackle their growing demand and labour shortages, the company worked with Enterprise SG to embark on productivity and digitalisation initiatives.
“I am glad to hear that the company has been actively expanding their business overseas through distributors. They are also constantly pursuing innovation to expand their product offerings,” said Dr Tan.
Internationalisation and Innovation
Given Singapore’s small geographical size, food manufacturing companies must look beyond the local demand and grow their business and revenue overseas, said Dr Tan.
As such, overseas expansion and continuous innovation will remain key strategies in ITM 2025, helping food manufacturing companies to drive growth.
Enterprise SG will endeavour on fostering a supportive ecosystem within the sector, and growing partner networks to enable companies to have greater access to markets, resource sharing and co-innovation.
It will also help companies who are currently exporting goods overseas deepen market penetration through branding initiatives, while connecting businesses with overseas contract manufacturing opportunities to help scale up production.
Position Singapore as a Regional Food Hub
Enterprise SG will also leverage Singapore’s research and development capabilities, progressive regulations and strong network of cross-border partnerships to attract global investments.
The agency will also help local companies build deeper regional consumer insights which will in turn, support the development of food products that are relevant for Asia.
Make Companies Resilient and Sustainable
Together with WSG, trade associations and chambers (TACs), Enterprise SG will develop a business continuity training programme for companies to strengthen their supply chain resilience and ability to respond to business disruptions.
With the world focusing more on sustainability, Enterprise SG will also work with the National Environment Agency (NEA) and the TACs to encourage companies to adopt green manufacturing practices.
Hasten Workforce Transformation, Create Quality Jobs for Locals
In line with the Food Manufacturing ITM 2025, the JTM will guide employers and workers on the skills and talent needed for this rapidly evolving sector.
The JTM will identify the trends and impact on key jobs within the sector over the next three to five years, and it will recommend strategies that companies can adopt to enhance their competitiveness and capabilities.
Dr Tan shared that these are fast changing and exciting times for the food manufacturing sector.
He said: “I would like to encourage companies and workers to make use of the resources in the ITM and JTM to prepare for the future.
“The Government will work closely with TACs and unions to provide support to both businesses and workers as they embark on their transformation journey.”
