East Coast Plan unveiled

[jw5]

HSK officiated a groundbreaking ceremony.

Heng Swee Keat​

2 hrs ·
Singapore will soon be able to further contribute to global pandemic resilience by manufacturing vaccines locally.
I was happy to officiate the groundbreaking ceremony of Sanofi’s Evolutive Vaccines Facility this morning. Sanofi is one of the largest vaccine makers in the world. As its name suggests, the facility will be ‘evolutive’ — designed to respond quickly to future pandemics and with the capacity to produce vaccines on a massive scale.
This facility is not only the latest addition to Singapore’s biopharma ecosystem, but also testament to the strong bilateral relationship between Singapore and France. Our two countries have longstanding and wide-ranging collaborations across many areas, including in the economy, culture, defence, and of course, science and innovation. As Sanofi’s latest investment shows, companies will continue to play an important role in expanding this partnership.
I look forward to Sanofi expanding its contributions here as they continue to innovate and push the boundaries of vaccine manufacturing!
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbi...rAlojhGjAZIyFnsKMJVMYMPJj3SEXdJg&__tn__=*bH-R

 

[jw5]

HSK congratulates Sanofi.

Heng Swee Keat​

2 hrs ·

Congratulations to Sanofi on your new facility! This fully digitalised facility is expected to be completed in end-2025.

(MCI Photo by Ngau Kai Yan)

 

[jw5]

HSK is impressed with new technology.

Heng Swee Keat​

21 hrs ·

Saw how the EVF manufacturing floor will be equipped with the technology to achieve higher operability and productivity. Their movable partition wall allows for the manufacturing floor to be divided into different zones. Their mobile equipment can also be shifted easily, just like how they illustrated this concept with LEGO bricks!

(MCI Photo by Ngau Kai Yan)

 

[jw5]

HSK meets Qing Yun.

Heng Swee Keat​

22 hrs ·

Qing Yun (in white) was one of the first few who joined Sanofi’s Evolutive Vaccine Facility. She shared how their plug and produce approach allows for the standardisation of equipment and for the same process modules to be used in different process platforms.

(MCI Photo by Ngau Kai Yan)

 

[jw5]

HSK took part in the Boao Forum.

Heng Swee Keat​

4 hrs ·
Took part in the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference yesterday. The panel discussion I was on focused on injecting impetus into the global economic recovery.
I spoke on the key factors determining Asia’s economic prospects this year — the ongoing COVID-19 situation and the Ukraine conflict. Overall, I remain cautiously optimistic about Asia’s economic outlook.
Beyond the near-term, the risk of deglobalisation has increased, with ongoing US-China tensions and the recent use of financial sanctions. The global trading system has proved quite robust despite the hurdles, with global trade at a record high last year. But this is something we cannot take for granted.
We discussed how we can strengthen partnerships and deepen the integration of our economies, in an open and inclusive way. By working together, Asia, and the world, will not only recover from the pandemic, but emerge stronger in the post-pandemic world.
([Top] MCI Photo by Chwee)

 

[jw5]

HSK spoke on some key economic factors.

Heng Swee Keat​

Yesterday at 16:28 ·

Took part in the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference yesterday. The panel discussion I was on focused on injecting impetus into the global economic recovery.

I spoke on the key factors determining Asia’s economic prospects this year — the ongoing COVID-19 situation and the Ukraine conflict. Overall, I remain cautiously optimistic about Asia’s economic outlook.

Beyond the near-term, the risk of deglobalisation has increased, with ongoing US-China tensions and the recent use of financial sanctions. The global trading system has proved quite robust despite the hurdles, with global trade at a record high last year. But this is something we cannot take for granted.

We discussed how we can strengthen partnerships and deepen the integration of our economies, in an open and inclusive way. By working together, Asia, and the world, will not only recover from the pandemic, but emerge stronger in the post-pandemic world.

([Top] MCI Photo by Chwee)

 

[jw5]

HSK visited FoodPlant.

Heng Swee Keat​

4 hrs ·
It is no secret that Singaporeans love food!
But food is not just about filling our stomachs – consumers are also increasingly aware that food is fundamental to our health and wellness. As we mark Earth Day today, we are also reminded that sustainable food solutions have an important role in the fight against climate change.
Food innovation will be key to addressing these trends. But companies that want to create new products may find the machines or facilities too expensive. I was therefore glad to launch the new FoodPlant today. Operated by Singapore Institute of Technology, this is a new facility that allows companies to share equipment, so that they can market-test small batches of their products in a cost-efficient way. I am also glad that FoodPlant has signed a MOU with New Zealand’s FOODBOWL to explore capability-sharing and collaborations in R&D.
I hope that facilities like FoodPlant will help companies accelerate innovation, deepen capabilities, and forge new partnerships!

 

[jw5]

HSK meets Angela.

Heng Swee Keat​

4 hrs ·

Angela Goh, an alumni from SIT who is now Project Executive at Foodplant, shared with me a novel non-thermal food processing technique called the Pulsed Electric Fields (PEF) technology. Here, I am comparing what it’s like to cut a potato that has undergone electroporation — a process which sends PEF through its cell walls. This potato is much easier to cut through than the potato that has not gone through PEF!

This technique helps to address the undesirable alteration of food flavour, colour and texture during the thermal processing stage.

(MCI Photo by Lim Sin Thai)

 

[jw5]

HSK meets Prof Mei Yin.

Heng Swee Keat​

8 hrs ·

Prof Mei Yin, Programme Lead at Singapore Institute of Technology, shared how spray drying is an essential step in the food manufacturing process to create products such as milk powder, instant coffee, and various powdered products.

(MCI Photo by Lim Sin Thai)

 

[jw5]

HSK meets SGProtein.

Heng Swee Keat​

9 hrs ·

Good meeting the team from SGProtein (which manufactures plant-based meats) again! I met them during my visit to Commonwealth Capital a few months ago. Today, I saw some of the equipment and facilities that were used for their R&D and production.

 

[jw5]

HSK meets Dahmeh.

Heng Swee Keat​

Yesterday at 16:11 ·

Dahmeh is one of the brands benefiting from FoodPlant. Using Foodplant’s retort equipment, they are able to commercially sterilise their products to extend shelf life and storage. In this process, food is packed and heated within flexible retort pouches or glass jars.

(MCI Photo by Lim Sin Thai)

 

[jw5]

HSK examines the packing.

Heng Swee Keat​

Yesterday at 16:11 ·

Here in the Filling and Packing Room, companies can leverage on various kinds of packaging equipment ranging from rotary filling and sealing machines to mobile weight fillers and vaccum chamber sealer, amongst others.

(MCI Photo by Lim Sin Thai)

 

[jw5]

HSK looks at HerbYvore’s plant-based products.

Heng Swee Keat​

Yesterday at 16:11 ·

A look at HerbYvore’s plant-based products that they are looking to launch soon! They are currently using Foodplant’s Thermal Processing Room, which offers heat treatment of liquids using thermal processess like pasterisation, extended shelf-life (ESL) and Ultra-High Temperature processing (UHT) to produce its eggless egg.

(MCI Photo by Lim Sin Thai)

 

[jw5]

HSK meets Wai Peng.

Heng Swee Keat​

Yesterday at 16:11 ·

Wai Peng is another alumni from Singapore Institute of Technology who is now Project Executive at Foodplant. He introduced various analytical instruments in the Analysis room that help determine the physical characteristics of the food products to achieve food quality and safety objectives.

(MCI Photo by Lim Sin Thai)

 

[jw5]

HSK gives congratulations.

Heng Swee Keat​

Yesterday at 16:37 ·

Congratulations on the launch! I’m looking forward to more companies working with FoodPlant and contributing to Singapore’s ambition to become a food and nutrition hub in Asia!

(MCI Photo by Lim Sin Thai)

 

[jw5]

HSK updates what MTF announced.

Heng Swee Keat​

23 hrs ·
The Multi-Ministry Taskforce announced today that we will be further relaxing safe management measures as we head towards an endemic COVID-19. There will no longer be a cap on group sizes, and safe distancing will no longer be required. All workers can now return to the workplace, although many companies continue to have flexible work arrangements. We will also be transiting from DORSCON Orange to Yellow.
Glad that we have come this far together. We have kept fatalities low and remained united as a people. A big thank you to our frontline workers, and everyone for cooperating and observing our safe management measures. As we enjoy greater newfound normalcy, do continue to remain vigilant and exercise social responsibility.

 

[jw5]

HSK enjoyed buka puasa with residents and colleagues.

Heng Swee Keat​

12 hrs ·
Together with my fellow East Coast Advisors and residents, we had our first physical GRC buka puasa in 2 years! It was nice to finally be able to catch up and makan with residents in person. A big thank you to the People’s Association Malay Activity Executive Committees Council (MESRA) in East Coast and M3 at Bedok. With less than ten days of Ramadan before Hari Raya Puasa, I wish our Muslim friends a meaningful last stretch of Ramadan!

 

[jw5]

HSK visited A*STAR.

Heng Swee Keat​

9 hrs ·
If you went to the National Day Parade last year, this cookie may look familiar to you. It was one of the snacks in the NDP Fun Pack. But you may not have realised that it came from – of all places – Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR)!
It is a low-GI (glycaemic index) cookie born out of astartcentral, a first-of-its-kind co-working space for deep-tech start-ups, that even includes laboratory facilities. Low-GI foods cause a slower and smaller rise in blood sugar levels but it does not mean low calories!
On a recent visit, I spoke with the innovators and business leaders and got a good sense of the active collaboration that has been taking place. I strongly encourage our agencies to continue working with our businesses and building our RIE ecosystem to develop innovative solutions that meet our national priorities and public sector needs.

 

[jw5]

HSK interested in cookies.

Heng Swee Keat​

10 hrs ·

Interesting to learn more about Nutriient’s Low GI oat cookies which use plant-based ingredients that can attenuate blood glucose levels and improve the gut health of consumers. It was distributed at last year’s National Day Parade, so some of you may have tried it before!

(MCI Photo by Lim Sin Thai)

 

[jw5]

HSK looks at business class meal.

Heng Swee Keat​

11 hrs ·

Looking at the business class meal tray developed by The SIA-SIAEC-SIMTech Joint Lab. In the last few years, more than 80 startups have used the infrastructure and programmes at A*STARTCentral to get their start, and many other Singapore tech startups have received support from A*STAR technologies.

(MCI Photo by Lim Sin Thai)