Rolls-Royce opens $700m facility in Seletar, its largest in Asia

Global engine giant Rolls-Royce has officially opened its $700-million manufacturing, research and training facility at Seletar Aerospace Park.

By 2015, the facility, Rolls-Royce's largest in Asia, is expected to create 500 new jobs.

Most of these jobs are for skilled workers like managers, engineers, technicians, and production craftsmen, and 80 to 90 per cent of those hired will be Singaporeans and permanent residents.

As he launched the Rolls-Royce Seletar Campus this afternoon, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said that Singapore will stay abreast of changes in the aviation industry.

Mr Lee underscored the industry's importance to Singapore and said Singapore will continue to educate its workers to develop a highly-skilled workforce, strengthen its pro-business environment, and improve its connectivity.

The new facility will enable Singapore to play a 'key role' in supplying aircraft engines for the latest jets, like the Airbus A380 and the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, he said.

'Choosing Singapore reflects Rolls-Royce's confidence in our workforce and in our future. Singapore will do our part to help the campus succeed, and make this partnership flourish,' he said.