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March 2006

ST Electronics leads Singapore companies in a consortium formed to pursue infrastructural projects in the Middle East

A media release by International Enterprise Singapore (IE Singapore)

The formation of the alliance was announced during the inaugural iPartners Alliance Day organised by IE Singapore.

MR No.: 025/06
Singapore, 29 March 2006

1. IE Singapore held its inaugural iPartners Alliance Day today. With the theme of “Celebrating Partnerships for Internationalisation”, the event brought together 150 decision makers from over 80 companies, and included alliances supported by the iPartners Programme, as well as prospective alliances.

2. The objectives of the iPartners Alliance Day was two-fold. First, while recognising the progress of the iPartners Programme, the event provided opportunity for experience sharing and learning among the iPartners alliances on alliance management and ‘go-to-market’ strategies. Second, the event provided a platform for members of the current and prospective alliances to explore new partnerships in overseas markets.

3. Said Mr Lee Yi Shyan, Chief Executive Officer, IE Singapore, “For our companies to compete effectively, they need to combine their products and services to offer end-to-end solutions. By working together, they can hope to secure international projects available to only large international and integrated firms”.

Formation of the Singapore Specialist Contractors Consortium (SSCC)

4. During the event, seven Singapore-based companies inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the formation of the Singapore Specialist Contractors Consortium (SSCC). The SSCC will collaborate to jointly pursue construction projects in the Middle East (see Annex 1 for the list of consortium members).

5. The SSCC brings together leading specialist contractors with international experience. Comprising intelligent building, mechanical and electrical, structural and civil, and building materials specialists, the SSCC represents a comprehensive portfolio of specialist services for the main contractors of major construction projects in the retail and commercial, hospitality, residential, educational and infrastructural sectors.

6. Leading the consortium in its Middle East thrust is ST Electronics. With its strength in market development and portfolio of projects in the Middle Eastern region, ST Electronics will be able to provide valuable leadership to the consortium.

7. The SSCC is the second consortium supported by IE Singapore’s iPartners Programme to target construction projects in the Middle East. Its formation will strengthen the spectrum of construction and related services offered by Singapore companies in the Middle East, including those offered by the Singapore Building and Infrastructure Consortium (SBIC), which was formed in May 2005.

8. While the SBIC is a vertically integrated value chain of service providers, the SSCC is a horizontal cluster of contractors which specialises in the construction phase of projects. The SBIC and SSCC are, hence, complementary groups which could supplement each other and strengthen the stable of construction-related solutions that Singapore companies offer in the Middle East. In particular, the SSCC will be targeting building projects in the retail, commercial, hospitality, residential and institutional industries in key markets in the Middle East.

9. Said Mr Yong Thiam Chong, President (Large-Scale Systems Group) of Singapore Technologies Electronics, “The common thread that binds us is that we have all identified the Gulf States as markets to develop for our companies, as we know that the opportunities in the market are vast. Forming the SSCC allows us to cast our nets wider and be more focused on identifying and securing projects. And by using the combined complementary strengths and leveraging on the Singapore brand name, we hope to have an edge over international competitors.”

About the International Partners (iPartners) Programme

10. The MOU inked today by the SSCC brings the number of iPartners consortiums supported by IE Singapore to 20. These 20 alliances will benefit 104 Singapore-based companies and are projected to achieve over S$993 million in overseas sales. The supported projects are from diverse industries, including info-comms technology, food services, airport services, exhibition and conference, logistics, and building and infrastructure sectors. Their key target markets are Asia Pacific region, greater China, and the Middle East.

11. To encourage Singapore-based companies to band together when venturing abroad, IE Singapore launched the International Partners (iPartners) Programme in October 2003. The iPartners Programme is an initiative that catalyses the formation of international alliances between Singapore-based companies. By banding together while abroad, our companies can combine their resources, complement each other's product offerings and pursue bigger projects. These will sharpen companies' competitiveness and maximise their chances of overseas success.

12. In view of the enthusiastic response from Singapore companies for the iPartners Programme, IE Singapore has increased its target from catalysing 40 alliances within three years, to 50 alliances in five years commencing from 2003. 10 alliances are in the pipeline, and these are expected to generate $500 million in overseas sales when fully realised.

13. Annex 1: Members of the Singapore Specialist Contractors Consortium

Issued by IE Singapore. For media enquiries or interviews, please contact:
Wah Hui ONG (Ms)
Assistant Manager, Corporate Communications Group
Tel: +65 6433 4942
Fax :+65 6337 8136
Email: ong_wah_hui@iesingapore.gov.sg

About International Enterprise Singapore (IE Singapore)

International Enterprise Singapore (IE Singapore) is an agency under the Ministry of Trade and Industry spearheading Singapore’s efforts to develop its external economic wing. We were formerly known as the Singapore Trade Development Board. Our mission is to help Singapore-based companies grow and internationalise successfully. We offer a wide range of services in 37 locations worldwide by using a “3C” framework of assistance – Competency, Connections and Capital. We provide market information, and assist enterprises to develop their business capabilities and find overseas partners. At the same time, IE Singapore works to position Singapore as a base for foreign businesses to expand into the region in partnership with Singapore-based companies. Please visit www.iesingapore.com for more information.

ANNEX 1

Members of the Singapore Specialist Contractors Consortium (SSCC)

1. Singapore Technologies Electronics Limited (Anchor Company)
   ST Electronics, the electronics arm of ST Engineering, delivers innovative system solutions to government, commercial, defence, and industrial customers worldwide. It specialises in the design, development and integration of advanced electronics systems, such as broadband radio frequency and satellite communication, e-government solutions, information communications technologies, rail and traffic management, real-time command & control, training and simulation, digital media, intelligent building management, and information security and mobile commerce solutions.
   
   Please visit www.stee.stengg.com
   
   
2. Asiatic Engineering Pte Ltd
   Established in 1969, Asiatic Engineering Pte Ltd has grown to become a leading pump specialist in Singapore and the region representing some of the leading brands in the industry from around the world. With inventory in excess of S$5 million housed in facilities covering 9,000 square meters, the company provides complete integrated water management services and equipment to a wide spectrum of industries.
   
   Our business entails providing solutions to water and fluid handling requirements in commercial buildings, municipal water supply, shipbuilding, construction, waste water treatment, oil & gas, paper and pulp and other manufacturing industries. Apart from pumps, Asiatic Engineering represents a leading brand of cooling towers from Japan, a range of fans, ventilators & dampers from the USA, storage racking systems and Clark forklifts from America. In Singapore, our services extend to beyond supplying of pumps, we can provide installation, commission start-ups and maintenance of equipments.
   
   With established offices in Malaysia, Indonesia, China and Vietnam, Asiatic Engineering is able to extend technical support and advise to customers and the industries in these countries.
   
   For more information, please visit our website at www.asiaticgroup.com.sg.
   
   
3. Flotech Controls Pte Ltd
   Flotech has more 20 years experience in providing process automation solutions - measurement, control and field communication for infrastructural projects - buildings, sea ports, water & waste-water, power plants and other industries.
   
   We measure and control flow, temperature, energy, level, distance, pressure, density, concentration and analysis of fluids. In buildings we measure and control flow, level, temperature, energy (BTU) in heating & cooling systems and analysis of cooling water. In sea-ports we provide crane distance measurement and control systems. In water and waste-water and power plants we provide measurement of process variables, water analysis, controls, field communication and SCADA systems.
   
   Please visit www.flotech.com.sg for more information.
   
   
4. Intraco Limited
   Intraco Projects provides the following key one-stop solutions:
   
   Total Building Solutions (Integration of building solutions including design, furnishing, energy saving, technology, interior/exterior LED multimedia/special effects lighting and water theme solutions) Total Security Solutions (biometrics security, electronic passports, RFID airport baggage handling, container scanners, facilities fire security training, training programmes for airlines/special forces) Customised Solutions (Procurement & Integrated Trading Services of technical products)
   
   For more information, please visit our website at www.intraco.com
   
   
5. Krislite Pte Ltd
   Krislite Pte Ltd was incorporated as in 1992 with the aim to provide high quality, efficient and innovative lighting solutions for the human environment. It is one of the leading lighting companies in Asia Pacific with offices in several Asia Pacific countries.
   
   In 1997, Krislite incorporated a joint venture company with 3e International Ltd, a well known premium European exterior street lighting suppliers. Krislite has also established solid and strategic relationship with various well known European lighting suppliers namely Presocia (Czech Rep), Regianni (Italy) and Roblon (Demark) and is their exclusive distributor for South East Asia.
   
   Krislite also a forerunner in the development of advance lighting development like LED. Krislite is actively developing and enhancing LED applications. Recent completed LED projects are the Esplanade, Wisma Atrium, Wuxi Shopping Center (China), Shangri-la Hotels (both China and Singapore), Marina Mandarin Hotel, Clifford Pier, and Marina Square Shopping Center.
   
   For more information, please visit our website at www.krislite.com.
   
   
6. Matrix Controls Pte Ltd
   Matrix Controls, founded in 1989, is a LonMark partner and a well-known building automation system manufacturer in Singapore. It’s leading range of BAS hardware and software, the Matrix iS21 series, provides fully automated HVAC (Heating Ventilation and Air-conditioning) management that is designed with energy efficiency in mind. The iS21 series of LonWorks application specific direct digital controllers (ASDDC) have been widely and successfully used in many office buildings, shopping malls, hotels, holiday resorts, libraries and university campuses, catering to the diverse and varied needs of these very functionally different buildings. In the field of building automation, energy management and HVAC control, Matrix Controls is a leading developer and manufacturer of LonWorks ASDDC.
   
   Please visit www.matrix-controls.com for more information.
   
   
7. Yongnam Holdings Limited
   Yongnam is a Singaporean-based company specialized in structural steel construction works as well as civil and mechanical construction works. In the area of structural steel construction, Yongnam undertakes a wide range of projects and supplies steel products to countries in the Asia Pacific region, such as Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei, Japan, India, Philippines, Korea, China, Thailand and Pakistan. Yongnam has a total covered-factory space of about 26,000 m2 that occupy a total land area of almost 100,000 m2, which can produce approximately 45,000 tonnes of fabricated steel structure each year.
   
   Yongnam is in the midst of establishing a new fabrication facility in Abu Dhabi that will have a production capacity of about 20,000 to 25,000 tonnes per month. The plant is expected to be operational in the 1st quarter of 2007. In another venture through a related company, another new facility will be established in Jubail, Saudi Arabia and it will have a production capacity of about 15,000 to 20,000 tonnes when it becomes operational in the 1st quarter of 2007.
   
   Please visit www.yongnam.com.sg for more information.

Media contact:

Magdalen Loh
AVP / Head, Corporate Communications
Singapore Technologies Electronics Limited
Tel: (65) 6413 1788 / 9822 3321
Fax: (65) 6484 8840
Email: magloh@stee.stengg.com