S$200m logistics hub breaks ground at Jurong West

S$200m logistics hub breaks ground at Jurong West
By Millet Enriquez | Posted: 07 December 2012 2224 hrs

SINGAPORE : A S$200 million logistics hub broke ground at Jurong West on Friday.

Named Supply Chain City, the facility is the brainchild of logistics firm YCH.

Apart from serving as its headquarters, the facility will also cater to other companies needing logistics space.

YCH is transforming a 6.5-hectare area in western Singapore to build its new home come 2014.

It will house a five-storey warehouse, a first-of-its-kind automated material handling system and eight floors of offices.

Supply Chain City is going to be a modern hub that rivals YCH's facilities in India and China.

This is in anticipation of booming demand for logistics and creating an ecosystem for the industry.

Robert Yap, chairman and CEO of YCH Group, said: "The community will include even the other logistics players and also the logistics or supply chain experts from all our customers.

"We hope that Supply Chain City will be where all the next generation, the new supply chain innovations come from."

Singapore's logistics and transport sector employs more than 200,000 workers and is facing a serious labour crunch.

Some S$42 million has been set aside by the government for the sector, through the National Productivity and Continuing Education Council (NPCEC), to raise its productivity and improve training.

To date, around 50 logistics companies have benefited from the roll-out of the five-year productivity roadmap, since March this year.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Tharman Shanmugaratnam, said: "There will be more strong logistics companies including...very small players that we are now nurturing through SPRING and IE Singapore. And the government is ready to support your growth and aspirations in this next phase of our economic development."

Experts have said big brands in the West are moving their warehousing and distribution to bring products closer to regional markets.

As Asia remains a centre for manufacturing, more companies will likely continue heading East.

- CNA/ms

- wong chee tat :)